Sydney needs to up its game to outstrip the competition in global “Smart City” rankings
A range of development initiatives look set to take off with recent rezoning and land release announcements.
The NSW Government has recently approved the rezoning of 100 hectares at Bella Vista and Kellyville, paving the way for their redevelopment as new urban centres. The decision to rezone will see a major building boom with 8,400 new homes coming to these precincts over the next 20 years.
This news comes hot on the heels of an announcement by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment for the release of 958 hectares in Menangle Park in Sydney’s south-west. The Department’s Director for Regions, Steve Murray, said the Menangle Park land release would see the development of a strategically planned, well-supported new community, with up to 3,400 new homes.
The untapped potential of Smarter urban planning and private partnerships
Unlike many global cities, Sydney doesn’t have a comprehensive Smart City agenda. The Committee for Sydney report suggests a range of Smart governance measures to remedy this, including developing a Smart Sydney Strategy and appointing a Smart City Commissioner. The report also emphasises the importance of government agencies harvesting new sources of data through Internet of Things sensors, as well as promoting the accessibility of big data they already capture.
Professor Chris Pettit, Director of the City Analytics program at the University of NSW, believes greater collaboration between private and public sectors will also be critical to Sydney’s “Smart City” success. Untapped data from big company sources, such credit card geo-locations, could form a blueprint for making better informed planning decisions to address issues including traffic congestion, health services, community cohesion, urban heat, noise pollution and air quality.
Parramatta set to become a “Smart City” trailblazer
Parramatta is looking to get ahead of the digitisation curve with its recently adopted Smart City Masterplan. The City Council and local industry leaders recently gained valuable input from a summit of international “Smart City” experts, where discussions focused on how Parramatta can transform into a globally recognised “Smart City”.
The City Council has also appointed a Strategic Smart City Officer to guide the integration of leading-edge technologies across the city, including the $2 billion Parramatta Square development.
Are you ready to collaborate with a “Smart” technology partner on your next development? The Developers’ Forum is the ideal place to look for advice, support and partnerships for your next project.
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