2021-10-12 Planning & Environment Committee Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                        12 OCTOBER 2021



    Organisation                 Description of Collaboration

    Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire   The Digital Hub is providing know-how and assistance to the Cherbourg
    Council                      Council to develop an artificial intelligence system for counting and
                                 auditing recyclables processed at their Material Recycling Facility.

    SunCoast Angels              Hosting of key investment events, including pitch meetings.

    Amazon AWS                   The Hub has been accepted into Amazon’s Activate program, which
                                 provides startups with AWS credits, technical support and training, to
                                 help grow their businesses.

    Venture Cafe Sydney          Event manager and conference platform, Firetech 2020 Conference

    Startup Catalyst             Startup Catalyst takes promising early stage technology startups on
                                 Missions to global tech hotspots. The Hub will host their next mission,
                                 focused on Agtech, in May 2021.

    Bushfire & Natural Hazards   Partner, Firetech Connect and Firetech 2021 Expo
    CRC

    QFES                         Partner, Firetech Connect and Firetech 2021 Expo

    AFAC                         Partner, Firetech Connect and Firetech 2021 Expo

    QLD AI Hub                   Partner, Hub/Cherbourg AI project, Firetech Connect and Firetech 2021
                                 Expo

    FireTech Connect Network     Partnerships with >50 bushfire resilience technology companies


5.       KPI UPDATE
A Social Return on Investment (SROI) evaluation was undertaken to assess the holistic contribution
of the Digital Hub to the local economy. The SROI methodology is used extensively to assess social
and economic values, which allocates financial value to benefits which can be otherwise difficult to
calculate. This report is attached.
The Digital Hub is realising Council’s strategy to unite and develop a strong, vibrant and productive
digital community. Consultation with stakeholders directly involved in Digital Hub activities provided
detailed data and anecdote regarding many value-adding economic activities. Following are the key
findings attributable to the Digital Hub in 2020/21:
•        Creation of 41.5 jobs, valued at: $3,735,000 ($1,867,500 direct attribution to Digital Hub)
•        Development of numerous new digital products and services valued at: $7,810,000 (direct
         attribution $1,562,000 to Digital Hub)
•        Intended private capital investment to stimulate business or promote products valued at a
         minimum of: $180,000.
The total SROI value of the Digital Hub – inclusive of the above and other benefits - is calculated to
be: $4.8m for 2020/21.
This is calculated on a conservative basis, meaning the true value is likely to be under-valued. This
does not include the value of capital grants awarded through the Digital Hub (Firetech). This does
not allow for COVID-19 impacts, as these were unable to be accurately estimated, although
stakeholders explained impaired trading conditions.
Working from and accessing markets from Noosa
The digital community is accessing broad markets from their base in the Noosa locality. Trade is
taking place with clients across SEQ, Queensland, Australia and international markets. The digital
community is also confident they can continue to work and grow their business from Noosa.

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