2020-08-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                          11 AUGUST 2020


BRANCH ACTIVITIES         RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS                       CURRENT PRIORITIES                       THE NEXT QUARTER
                             will launch a new campaign at the           and plan for expansion.               new/expanding markets –
                             end of July                               Education Sector – NETA focus on      digital/tech tourism, education
                          Tech/Digital                                   progressing Learning Hub proposal     tourism, food tourism, indigenous
                                                                                                               tourism.
                           The Digital Hub was closed to all         Agribusiness/Food – continue to
                             tenants and event activity in early         support local food initiatives
                             March. All rent and co-work charges
                             were waivered for the period March
                             to June.
                           The Digital Hub, following the
                             development of a COVID safe plan,
                             was reopened in late June. By 1st
                             July, the Digital Hub activity
                             including revenues returned to close
                             to pre-COVID levels
                           Firetech Connect secured a further
                             $100k from the Federal
                             Governments Bushfire Recovery
                             Fund. This takes funding of this
                             program to $250k. Firetech Connect
                             is a program that builds Bushfire
                             resilience through technology
                             innovation. More detailed
                             information here:
                             www.firetechconnect.com/
                           The Digital Hub was converted into a
                             3D manufacturing facility in late
                             March to supply Shields to frontline
                             medical staff
                          Education
                           NETA (Education and Training
                             Alliance) developed a Future Skills
                             Hub scoping document for funding
                             consideration by State Government
                           Council’s Economic Development
                             team worked with the Property team
                             to assess interest in the TAFE site.
                             In early July Council decided not to
                             pursue the purchase of the TAFE


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