2017-09-18 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                         18 SEPTEMBER 2017


7                        1617T130 PEREGIAN BEACH DIGITAL HUB - TENDER ACCEPTANCE
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                            Economic Development Manager, Anthony Dow
                                  Executive Services Department
                                  (to be transitioned to Environment and Sustainable Development Department)

Index                             ECM/ Subject/ Economic Development & Project/ Digital Hub

Attachments                       1.   1617T130 –Tender evaluation matrix


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Economic Development Manager to the General Committee
Meeting dated 18 September 2017 and award tender 1617T130 for the provision of Management
Services – Peregian Beach Digital Hub to Digital Precinct Pty Ltd subject to the finalisation of a
detailed Management Agreement negotiated and signed by the CEO.


REPORT
The development of the Peregian Beach Digital Hub (the Digital Hub) as a location for innovation,
entrepreneurial activity and IT business development is one of the major components of Stage 1
of the Rufous Street Masterplan.

Construction of the Hub, which is being jointly funded by Council and the State Government, is
now well underway with an estimated completion date of the end of November.

This management services tendering process marks the beginning of the operational stage for
the facility with Council seeking submissions from business operators (both not for profit and for
profit business) for the provision of management and curation services for the Digital Hub.

Council wishes to develop a strong and collaborative partnership with a proven operator who can
balance the need to achieve their own commercial outcomes with the delivery of Council’s return
on investment requirements and contribution to delivering on the vision, actions and outcomes of
the Local Economic Plan.

1.                       Noosa Local Economic Plan
The vision statement for the Local Economic Plan is: “A dynamic and resilient economy for
generations to come”. To achieve this vision, the Plan identifies a number of focus areas relevant
to the successful delivery of services from the Peregian Beach Digital Hub:
    encouraging business growth in industry sectors that have low environmental impact and
      high economic value;
    leveraging and enhancing Noosa’s brand;
    recognising education as a key feature of knowledge economies;
    encouraging a spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation within the Noosa community; and
    supporting specific strategies focused on developing priority industry sectors including;
      digital economy & creative industries.



                                                                                                 Page 29 of 36