2019-08-06 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                 6 AUGUST 2019


Referred to as ‘digital tribes’, these groups include Software Developers, Digital Marketers,
Screen Professionals and Electronic Music Producers/DJ’s. The Hub’s support of these groups
has included promotional support to grow membership, event hosting, meetup curation and
organisational support. Catering costs have been covered by sponsors, including Technology
One.

Council has achieved a year-end occupancy rate of around 90% with minimal investment in
marketing. The promotional activity has primarily been channelled through the hosting of digital
group meetups, delivery of quality talent development programs and the introduction of a quality
e-newsletter.

For a detailed view of the month to month activity of the Hub, please read the Attachment 1 -
Peregian Digital Hub E-newsletters.

In December 2017, Council agreed to move forward with a Council facilitated operating model,
and resolved that the success and impact of this type of operating structure would be assessed
following 18 months of operation.

After 12 months of operation, it is clear that the current operating structure is critical to the
success of the Hub and the broader digital ecosystem. The commercial viability of the Hub is
tightly coupled to the health of Noosa’s digital ecosystem. Without a strong base of technology
entrepreneurs and digital businesses, there will be insufficient demand to sustain the Hub’s
facilities and services.

It is therefore proposed that Council does not wait for the 18 month operating anniversary to
review the performance of the operating model and that this full year report and attachment
provides sufficient evidence to support continuation of the current model led by the Digital Hub
Director.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Economic Development Manager to the Services and
Organisation Committee meeting dated 6 August 2019 providing a full year report on the
performance and activities of The Hub for the period 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019 and
A.   Acknowledge the significant contribution by Chris Boden, founding Director of the Digital
     Hub, in achieving outstanding results for The Hub in its first year of operation and
     congratulate him on the positive impact of his effort;
B.   Approve continuation of the Council facilitated model for the operation of The Hub for a
     further minimum three year period from January 2020 to December 2022, with 6 monthly
     reporting to Council.

REPORT
The purpose of this report is to update Council on The Hub’s performance and activities for the
full year ending 30 June 2019, the first 12 months of operation and seeks approval from Council
for the continuation of the Council facilitated model for the operation of The Hub. For a more
detailed description of the Hub’s activity for the first 6 months of operation (period 1 July to 31
December 2018) refer to the report ‘Peregian Digital Hub – Half-Yearly Update to 31 December
2018’ in the Services and Organisation Committee Agenda dated 12 February 2019.

The Hub is a purpose-built facility designed to house multiple digital companies and individual
workers in an open, modern environment suited to collaboration and co-working. The Hub’s
cutting-edge architecture accommodates a mix of established technology enterprises in private
office spaces as well as individual entrepreneurs, digital specialists and technologists operating
in a co-working environment.

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