2017-12-18 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                                18 DECEMBER 2017


6                        PEREGIAN BEACH DIGITAL HUB - IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                              Economic Development Manager, Anthony Dow
                                    Environment and Sustainable Development Department

Index                               ECM/ Subject/ 45.04 Economic Development

Attachments                         1.    Peregian Beach Digital Hub Implementation Plan


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Noosa Council, with financial support from the Queensland Government, is nearing completion of
the construction of Stage 1 of the Peregian Beach Digital Hub at Rufous Street, Peregian Beach.
This facility offers a significant opportunity for Council to strengthen and diversify its economy as
articulated in the Local Economic Plan and Corporate Plan. Crucial to the success of this
objective is careful consideration of the management and operational model for this facility to
ensure it enables the economic outcomes intended, provides a collaborative and innovative
space to grow employment and investment and is sustainably financed and managed on behalf
of our community.
With this in mind, this report and the attached Peregian Beach Digital Hub Implementation Plan
outlines a revised approach to tenant and operate the Peregian Beach Digital Hub. Following the
decision by Council in September 2017 to cease the tender process for external management
services for the Hub, a number of workshops with Councillors and further industry benchmarking
has informed and clarified expectations for the operation of the Hub - contributing to a balanced
and measured approach via a proposal for Council facilitated management and operation of the
Hub. Further detail on the approach is reflected in the implementation plan attached.
The Council facilitated model will enable non-exclusive and flexible engagement with Noosa’s
local technology sector. Through the engagement of a Digital Hub Coordinator to support
Council’s Economic Development team, Council will facilitate engagement with local technology
businesses and potential providers of capacity building programs. With a strong emphasis on
revenue and investment generation, an initial priority for the Hub Coordinator will include
submitting a grant application to the Federal government’s AusIndustry Incubator Support Fund.
In addition to the appointment of a dedicated industry expert (Hub Coordinator) an Expression of
Interest process will be undertaken to tenant the Digital Hub. Resourcing for this process will be
funded from existing budgets, with ongoing financial considerations being subject to standard
budget review and annual processes.
The activity section of the attached Implementation Plan provides more details.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Economic Development Manager to the General Committee
Meeting dated 18 December 2017 and;
A.                       Adopt the Peregian Beach Digital Hub Establishment Phase Implementation Plan –
                         December 2017 provided at Attachment 1;
B.                       Approve the engagement of a project resource to facilitate the implementation plan;
C.                       Approve the undertaking of an Expression of Interest process for tenancy of the Digital
                         Hub;
D.                       Note that, following the EOI process, a further report will be provided to Council, presenting
                         a revised financial model and the intended tenancy mix.



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