Hills Shire Council looks forward to hearing any community suggestions on the Smart Places Strategic Framework, a plan to smoothen the implementation of ‘smart’ technologies in The Hills.

The draft provides a long-term strategy to encourage innovation, tackle city challenges, attract investment and enhance the overall liveability of the region.

The Council says Smart Places presents an observable influence to residents as it eases day-to-day capabilities with the use of various technologies and data.

The draft Smart Places Strategic Framework presents six Smart Place themes to information The Hills’ transformation into a “Smart Place.” These embody Movement, Placemaking and Liveability, Economy, Sustainability and Resilience, Digital Inclusion, and Governance.

A significant chunk of the stakeholder investment shall be directed on “high progress places and locations” with the best density of residents, staff, and guests and large-scale redevelopment and transformation similar to Strategic Centres: Norwest, Rouse Hill, and Castle Hill.

The draft framework additionally aligns with the Council’s Precinct Plans for the three Strategic Centres and the Council’s Economic Growth Plan.

Council defines “Smart Places” as areas the place technology, information, and innovation are used to extend the effectivity of on a daily basis processes and clear up various challenges, thereby promoting a greater standard of living for its residents.

Existing applied sciences and systems are currently in place, which the draft Smart Place Strategic framework intends to build on for the continuous and future implementation of those applied sciences. These current technologies include:

Flood warning methods on some bridges

Remote entry to Council sporting services

Solar panels on the Council’s Administration Building

Electric car charging stations at the Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre

Water stage sensors in some dams

Free public Wi-Fi in main retail centres

Facilitating the submission of types, funds and purposes on-line

Increased utilisation of QR Codes

The public exhibition of the Framework opened for the common public on thirteen November 2023 and can stay as such until Monday, eleven December 2023, at 5:00 PM. Feedback may be despatched to the Council’s Have Your Say on-line section here.

To see a abstract and a downloadable copy of the Draft Smart Places Strategic Framework , visit right here.

After the exhibition, the Council may have its Post-Exhibition in its timeline in early 2024, and will be finalised between early to mid-2024.

Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Peter Gangemi, talked about the draft proves the Council’s help for promoting innovation and stimulating economic benefits.

“Becoming a Smart Place is the means in which of the longer term,” Mayor Gangemi said.

“This Framework supplies a basis for contemplating how technologies could be responsibly integrated into our public areas to boost them and make these spaces even higher.

“We are encouraging innovation via technology that can be utilized to extend resilience and safety during pure disasters whereas encouraging the uptake of energy-efficient applied sciences to help our local environment thrive.

“The draft Framework additionally explores how technologies can higher help the native financial system, making commercial areas extra enticing for businesses to set up store here.