The smart communities approach provides the greatest benefit for Australia’s residents, according to Digital Futures expert David Bartlett who delivered the closing keynote speech at the Australian Smart Communities Summit in Caloundra last Friday.
Mr Bartlett told delegates that Australia could be a ‘real leader’ in this area by building on the “extraordinary strength of this conference” and sharing with rest of the nation the importance of the work already done on smart communities to attract investment in this area.
“Everything we do, when we articulate why the smart city movement is so important, needs to be centred on the citizens – on what’s in it for the people and what does the end game produce in terms of better life outcomes for those people who live in the places that will change.”
Mr Bartlett, a former Premier of Tasmania, was one of 27 international and national speakers at the inaugural two-day Summit which focused on smart solutions such as drone technology, smart assistive technology and smart data in the development of smart communities.
About 160 delegates, sponsors and exhibitors attended the two-day Summit which showcased current technologies, case studies and presentations from thought leaders representing leading technology, telecommunications and infrastructure providers, as well as local government, universities and key research organisations.
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Sunshine Coast also sponsored six high school students selected from Kawana Waters State College, Mountain Creek State High School, Caloundra State High School and Unity College.
“With so many speakers and exhibitors showcasing these smart city technologies on our doorstep, it was a great opportunity to introduce some of our local youth to see how our future cities are being developed,” RDA Sunshine Coast Chair Tony Riddle said.
Image: Deputy Premier of Queensland, the Hon Jackie Trad, Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson and Lutz Heuser, Chief Technology Officer from the Urban Software Institute in Germany.
