2021-10-12 Planning & Environment Committee Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                     12 OCTOBER 2021


It is founded on the hypothesis that adopting breakthrough technologies can build bushfire resilience
in regional communities like Noosa, and help to avert future catastrophes.
Through its Firetech Connect program, the Hub in collaboration with Council’s Disaster Management
team, is developing an innovation platform that enables emergency services agencies and other
partners to trial promising bushfire technologies.
The platform comprises:
•       A pre-qualified global network of over 70 technology solution providers
•       Project funding via enterprise partners and a framework for conducting pilot trials
•       A Living Laboratory in which solutions can be trialled and assessed
•       Collaborative partnerships with key agencies to oversee trial operations
The program works by identifying the technology needs of partners and prioritising those which could
best be accelerated into commercial use by conducting pilot trials in Noosa’s Living Lab to prove
their efficacy.
Pilot trials are designed and conducted with the expertise and operational support of key emergency
response agency partners and results are assessed by their subject matter experts with a view to
commercial rollout at regional, state and national level.
Firetech Connect Network
Through this program, the Hub is building the leading global network of solution providers with over
80 companies from Europe, Asia, North America, South America, South Africa and Oceania.
Firetech Connect member companies are focussed on solving a range of problems relating
mitigation, response and recovery from wildfires and bushfires events including solutions in early
detection using satellite imaging, drones, environmental sensors, robotic cameras, artificial
intelligence, fire resistant materials, eco-friendly suppressants and a number of other next generation
solutions.
Firetech Living Lab
In December 2020, Council was awarded a grant of almost $2m to develop a FireTech Lab in Noosa,
within which promising bushfire-resilience technologies can be trialled, demonstrated and
accelerated into active duty to protect Australia’s regional communities.
The Living Lab has two key components:
•       A Data Lab where solutions for prediction, detection, analysis, co-ordination & communication
        can be trialled & showcased. These capabilities will be housed in the Hub’s phase 2 expansion
        into the current Peregian Beach Community House ; and
•       A Bushland Lab where new physical solutions (e.g. drones, robots, IOT sensors) can be safely,
        quickly and legitimately trialled, demonstrated and assessed in specially-designated zones
        with the support of partner authorities.
These projects commenced in April 2021 and are slated for completion in mid to late 2022.

4.      PARTNERSHIPS & COLLABORATIONS
The Digital Hub has established a significant network of partnerships which are helping to amplify
the impact and reach of Noosa Council’s investment in building the digital and tech sector.

    Organisation                 Description of Collaboration

    TechnologyOne                Sponsorship of Hub event program in exchange for promotion and
                                 branding exposure.

    Advance Queensland           Advance Queensland is providing funding support for the FireTech
                                 International Conference to be held in Nov 2020.



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