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October 2008

The Logan LANARTA Branch held its inaugural Real Estate Breakfast on 8 July at the Logan Entertainment Centre. Over 30 real estate agents and 40 representatives from community organizations and government attended.     The forums focused on ways that the private and community sectors can work together to support and sustain tenancies in the private rental market. Speakers included Wendy Clark of Logan TAAS, Charm Lord of Families around Beenleigh, Jenny Schmidt manager of Interlink Housing and Retiring Magistrate Bill Randall of the Small Claims Tribunal.  According to Mr Randall over 60 percent of the SCT applications he has heard have come from the Logan area. He cited interruptions in Commonwealth Rent Assistance as the most common cause of action. He expressed concerns that evicted tenants will be unable to rent privately.  Mr Randall expressed concerns about the dislocating effects of objectionable behavior terminations upon the family members of respondents and recommended that courses addressing antisocial behavior may benefit the larger community.  Other items discussed included TAAS’s role in resolving disputes, the Homelessness Early Intervention program, and the benefits of head leasing to a community rent scheme.  The forums identified a number of property managers interested in working with community agencies and will become a regular event with the next to be hosted by Kingston East Neighbourhood Group on Thursday 20 November.   Logan LANARTA have welcomed Homeless Persons Information Queensland as a visiting member of the group and have discussed the growing involvement of the Queensland Police Force as the first response to primary homelessness in the Logan Area. Logan LANARTA also welcomes Panpacificoceania inc. to the network and its work with Logan’s large Pan-Pacific population.  Interlink Housing have begun to gather community input into the formation of a Logan Housing Company.  The first steps include holding a Community Forum on 1 October to determine the shape of company and its community interactions and arranging an affordable housing bus tour for city council members to allay their concerns about the appearance and appropriateness of affordable and non-profit housing. Interlink hopes to gain management rights of properties built in the area under the National Rental Affordability Scheme and anticipates submitting a tender in 2009.        Logan/LANARTA is holding the first free Lunch in Logan event at Wembley Gardens on Wednesday 22 October to draw attention to the issue of homelessness in the area. Community and emergency relief agencies are coming together to provide a day of healthy food and activities for local residents.