No better time to get flood prepared
Logan has seen some tough times this year, that’s why we’re focusing on staying prepared.
It’s been a huge year for so many of us here in Logan. A lot of us are wrapping up for the year and getting ready to spend some much deserved time with family and friends.
It hasn’t always been easy. We began the year with challenging floods that tested the community. But as always, Logan came together and looked after those in need, without hesitation.
However, another La Niña event has been declared for the coming summer, which means the December to February rainfall is likely be above average once again.
There is no better time than right now to start getting prepared.
Earlier this month I invited members of the community to join me in meeting with SES, Queensland Fire and Rescue, and the Logan City Council disaster recovery team to learn how to be prepared for another what will almost certainly be another wet summer.
My electorate office – located at 22 Loganlea Road, Waterford West – has disaster-ready packs with helpful guides and resources to be prepared and stay safe this coming storm season.
Quick and easy tips include securing important documents so they are easy to grab in a hurry. You should also keep essentials like torches and spare batteries, bottled fresh water, non-perishable food, first aid kit, toiletries, spare medication, and warm clothes.
A comprehensive Get Ready Guide can be found at the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service website. You can also contact my office and we will print you a copy.
I encourage everyone to stay safe this summer. Think ahead about the small things you can do to prepare today, so you can have peace of mind in the months ahead.
As always, if you need any advice or assistance, don’t hesitate to contact my office in-person or by phone on (07) 3445 3100.
Logan Hospital Further Expanded
Recently, it feels like the Palaszczuk Government is announcing more funding for health and hospitals every week.
As the Member for Waterford, it’s especially great to see the Logan Hospital expanding so rapidly to accommodate the more than 300 new beds delivered in this year’s budget.
The Government has also invested in a new, high-tech modular ward to deliver new beds within six-months to respond to the growing demand for health services in the Logan Area.
The Logan Hospital is the jewel in the crown of health services in the area. It provides critical services ranging from mental health care, cardiology, paediatrics, and palliative care.
People from all walks of life rely on frontline nurses and doctors to care for them when they need it most. That’s why the Government has committed $1 billion so far to expand the delivery of services in one Queensland’s fastest growing areas.
When I saw the plans earlier this year to expand the maternity service, I was stunned by the scale of work being done. With almost 4,000 babies being born at the hospital each year, and the emergency department being the second busiest in all of Queensland, there’s no doubt that the demand exists for more services.
You may have seen the two cranes on site that are part of the extraordinary vertical transformation of the hospital. But did you know they have names? ‘Boomer’ and ‘McCrane’ have been hard at work since the expansion began. Their names are a result of a competition the hospital ran which saw year four students Myah and Isabella from Perioperative Services crowned the winners. In 2020, ‘Sir Lift-a-Lot’ kicked off the tradition for the hospital and I can’t wait to see what other names come through for future expansions.
Community Benefit Fund paying big
As the year ends, a new round of recipients of the Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF) will, no doubt, have something to celebrate. The GCBF is a $60 million yearly fund that provides support to community groups and organisations to make upgrades and purchases that boost their ability to engage in the community.
We know that these organisations are to thank for making Logan such a vibrant place to live, and that’s why the GCBF is so important.
We all can appreciate the amazing work that our community groups do for us, whether it’s the Bethania Rams Football Club keeping our local young ones active and healthy, or community groups that upgrade their kitchen facilities to feed those in need.
Across the City of Logan, the fund has approved nearly 500 separate grants totalling almost $10 million. These grants have helped to fund defibrillators for football clubs, solar panels, fans, play equipment and trailers.
The GCBF was established in 1994 and is Queensland’s largest one-off grants program, having received over 60,000 applications and dishing out over $1 billion in grants since it began. I’ve spoken with so many recipients of the fund who have all said that it has transformed their organisation for the better.
If you think your organisation could use funding for a project, feel free to call my office on 3445 3100. The team at the GCBF is also more than happy to speak with your organisation prior to applying to help you understand the process and how to best prepare your application.
With four rounds per year there is always an application window just around the corner. The next round, which opens in mid-January, is the annual ‘Super Round’ with grants of up to $100,000. For 2023, the Super Round closes 28 February, and the three remaining grant rounds of up to $35,000 close 31 May, 31 August and 31 October, so there’s always a round ready for your organisation to apply!
