Little relief for Redland, Logan in state budget 2025-26
Redland and Logan residents face soaring rates and rising taxes and this year’s state budget offered little in return beyond barge fare relief and recycled projects.
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Taxpayers in Redland and Logan, two of southeast Queensland’s fastest-growing outer-metropolitan regions, received meagre infrastructure funding in this week’s state budget, despite both cities being slugged higher state taxes and council charges.
In Redland, one of the few genuine new initiatives announced was a 50 per cent vehicle barge subsidy for southern Moreton Bay island residents.
The measure aims to ease chronic parking congestion around the mainland Weinam Creek ferry terminal at Redland Bay.
A one-way vehicle barge trip currently costs $90, or $180 for a return trip with island residents paying a discounted fare of $72 one way or $144 return.
The new state subsidy cuts the fare to $45 one way, so island residents will pay $90 for a return trip, half the full price, and a reduction in the existing discounted rate.
The subsidy is designed to encourage islanders to take their vehicles on the barge, reducing parking pressure near ferry terminals and Redland Bay streets.
Another key project in the budget for Redland was a $5.94 million boat ramp at Wallaby Rd, Redland Bay, with $3.85 million allocated for 2025–26 and $2.09 million already spent.
The ramp will feature three lanes and a floating walkway.
However, the project has faced community backlash after Redland City Council resumed the land in 2023, compulsorily acquiring the property from a 90-year-old widow for $2.4 million.
Redland Bay great-grandmother Carmel Bourke was given four months in January 2023 to pack up the mansion that she built with her husband Kevin more than 40 years ago and move out.
At the time, Mrs Bourke said the $2.4 million “compensation” was nowhere near market value for the 10.825 hectares of prime waterfront land complete with a rare deepwater anchorage.
Animal welfare advocates welcomed the allocation of $12 million for a new RSPCA facility at the IndigiScapes precinct in Capalaba, which will update the organisation’s ageing shelter.
It is hoped the budget allocations will bring to an end two-and-a-half years of road duplication works on Cleveland–Redland Bay Rd, where two lanes have been closed off along a 1km bottleneck between Anita St and Victoria Point’s main shopping centre.
Despite the lanes being built and the footpaths kerbed, the lanes are still closed off to traffic while finishing works are completed.
Funding for a mental health facility at Redland Hospital was reconfirmed but without expansion or further details.
While other parts of Queensland, especially Olympic-linked corridors, secured billions in infrastructure funding, Redland residents were also left wondering how much would be spent on road upgrades and infrastructure for the controversial Olympic whitewater venue at Birkdale.
The budget documents revealed no new investment in this key project.
Redland’s neighbouring city of Logan fared slightly better in the state budget, but most of its funding was tied to existing projects.
The standout was the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail project, which has a total budget of $5.75 billion.
For 2025–26, $603 million is allocated for planning and procurement work.
The budget showed that the relocation of Loganlea train station was progressing, backed by a total commitment of $173.76 million, including $65 million in the upcoming financial year.
The new station aims to better connect nearby health precincts and improve rail service integration.
Logan will also benefit from more health workers with extra funding to boost staffing to 17,779 full-time equivalents across the Metro South Hospital and Health Service.
The state will spend $52.1 million on community housing in Logan, with 172 social homes under construction or under contract with the ultimate aim 53,500 homes by 2044.
Logan police station will receive a $76 million upgrade, and two new Youth Justice Schools will be built with $40 million.
Additional projects in Logan included intersection upgrades at Beenleigh Connection Rd and City Rd, safety improvements at Mount Cotton Rd and Wuduru Rd in Beenleigh, and roadworks on Brisbane–Beenleigh Rd and Holmview Rd.
The budget also added ongoing investment for road safety programs such as Safer Roads Sooner and the Black Spot Program.
Public transport in Logan received modest support, with $2.5 million allocated for expanding Logan’s bus infrastructure, including service extensions and terminal upgrades.
As from Monday, June 30, TransLink will introduce timetable and route changes across Logan and Redland to align with the Brisbane Metro rollout to boost connectivity and service frequency.
Logan’s bus network will receive more than 160 additional weekly trips, including increases on routes 565, 570 and 569, the key link from Logan Hyperdome to Springwood and the Brisbane CBD.
Minor changes will also occur in Redland, particularly for services into the city.
Suburbs such as Flagstone and Yarrabilba are not included in the upcoming TransLink service changes associated with the Brisbane Metro rollout, following recent enhancements like Sunday services and extended operating hours on key routes such as the 587.
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Originally published as Little relief for Redland, Logan in state budget 2025-26
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