SCCANZ calls for better smart cities efforts

The Smart Cities Council Australia and New Zealand (SCCANZ) has written to Allan Tudge, federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure, to share its views on Australia’s smart cities plans and offer solutions to perceived problems.

A copy of the letter, published on the SCCANZ website, shows that the organisation is not pulling any punches, saying that “Australia’s national smart cities policy is significantly lacking — in leadership, commitment, programmatic work and most importantly, funding.

“We lag behind many nations. We have not embraced the lessons from other countries that have gone before us, and we are not embracing best practices, for which the Smart Cities Council have been advocating for almost three years now,” the letter says.

“Whilst the Smart Cities and Suburbs program has stimulated much activity in helping shape better communities, through the investment by local government authorities in technology and data solutions, it seems there has been little institutional change and replicable investment from local government, the key recipient of the funding.”

SCCANZ says that it is “seeking from the Australian Government a renewed commitment to the smart cities movement, to help stimulate investment in making our cities globally competitive, to lift productivity and deliver better citizen services”.

“Above all, supporting investment in smart technology and data solutions in our infrastructure development and urban management practices will help address other key outcomes being sought by the government, such as reduction in congestion, better transportation systems and better population planning processes.”

You can read the full copy of the letter here.

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