Cheers to boutique breweries as council slashes red tape for small businesses

LOOKING for a boutique beer or freshly roasted coffee? Logan is set to become the “go to” place after council cut red tape for small businesses.

Logan councillor Russell Lutton and Monkey Tree Brewing director Dean Forte raise a glass to relaxing the industry thresholds in Logan.

LOGAN could soon become the “go-to” spot for boutique breweries, coffee bars and cheesemakers, after Logan City Council decided to relax industry thresholds, making it easier for small businesses to get planning permission.

Under the new rules, yet to be sanctioned by the state government, there would be less red tape and lower costs for small businesses setting up and expanding in Logan.

Barriers for low, medium and high-impact industries would be relaxed but without compromising emission standards, if the state approved the changes.

Council’s new Planning and Economic Growth committee chairman Russell Lutton said the idea was to attract more small businesses, similar to Monkey Tree Brewing and Simply Beans on Compton Rd.

“I’m looking forward to being the new chairman because economic growth and job creation are important in my division where the unemployment rate is close to 19 per cent,” Cr Lutton said. “Who wouldn’t want to see more boutique breweries and coffee roasters here?” he said.

Cr Lutton said the committee restructure, which rolled eight committees into six to “align with the city’s corporate plan”, was not retribution for former chairman Cr Darren Power supporting ousted chief executive Sharon Kelsey.

The committee overhaul was approved at this week’s full council meeting, which also heard Mayor Luke Smith justify his December trip to the US and push for a greater focus on financial returns from Logan’s sister city partners.

“We’ve only used our sister cities in the past as ceremonial and it’s only been in the past three years we have focused on more than friendship,” he said.

“The recent delegation to the United States, to Cincinnati, allowed us to forge an agreement with the city that transitions over 15 years from having the worst crime in the history of the US to being a hub of Fortune 500 companies,” he said.

Former chairman of the planning committee Cr Darren Power said he believed he was not appointed to the new committee because he had spoken out against overseas trips. “I've been at council for a long time and have never seen any economic benefits from overseas trips,” he said. “In fact, it’s the opposite and there is more to gain for Logan if interstate and intrastate businesses decide to relocate here. In 2016, the mayor’s trip to the US cost ratepayers about $80,000.”