Policy Perspective - October 2017

05 Oct 2017

Smart Cities marks a milestone

We’re two months into the development of the Code for Smart Communities in partnership with the Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand (SCCANZ).

SCCANZ Executive Director Adam Beck has flown to Washington DC to present a draft at Smart Cities Week, marking the Code’s first milestone.

After work sessions with government and industry to identify how we can best measure performance across our cities, the draft Code covers collaboration, governance and sustainability issues.

Based on principles that span digital connectivity, analytics, awareness, action, implementation and innovation, the work sessions have taken place in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Canberra.

This will be extended to New Zealand in November.

Government and private sector development stakeholders will be invited to test draft versions of the Code in coming months before its final release in early 2018.

For further information, please contact Adam Beck.

Next Generation pilot invites feedback

Australia is in the midst of a building boom with $100 billion infrastructure program being delivered nationally.

However, over the past decade around $20 billion in projects have been delayed, cancelled or mothballed due to community opposition.

The Next Generation Engagement Project is inviting infrastructure professionals, policy makers and impacted communities to deliver feedback on early findings in its Research Priorities Summary Report.

This pilot is the result of an industry-wide survey and workshops with almost 200 leading infrastructure practitioners and policymakers across Australia.

Consultation is now open and will form a final report due for release in November.

This report will identify the industry’s top priorities addressed through a global research program over three to five years.

We encourage you to engage in this discussion and help bolster strong growth for sustainable infrastructure.

Parramatta builds a case for communities

Earlier this year we launched the Green Star – Communities Guide for Local Government to provide a plan on how we can deliver more productive, liveable, sustainable and healthy communities.

This guide explains how local councils can use the principles underpinning the Green Star – Communities rating tool to help tackle their local challenges, deliver and communicate better outcomes for residents and increase the value of their investments.

So how exactly can this rating tool breathe new life into a community?

Let’s look to the City of Parramatta, the first local government to seek a Green Star – Communities rating for the $1.6 billion rejuvenation of Parramatta Square.

As well as delivering environmental, economic and social sustainability for local residents through the Communities rating tool, the City of Parramatta has also committed to ensuring each building in the precinct is certified under Green Star – Design & As Built.

We believe that this level of leadership can be adopted by all local governments to create vibrant, resilient communities we look forward to welcoming new local council projects under Green Star – Communities.

Catch up on our Communities Guide for Local Government to get on board with smart, sustainable planning.

Looking back on a year of policy leadership

If you have not had a chance to take a look, have a read through our Advocacy Highlights, mapping the strides we’ve taken in working with government and industry to secure policy leadership in the development of sustainable cities and communities over the past year.

In 2016-17, we certified 17 government projects with another 13 registered in the pipeline.

We applaud policy action taken by all three levels of government and our industry and encourage you to take an in-depth look to track a year of remarkable growth and increasing influence.