Smart City looking Towards a Smart Future

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It seems the Federal Government has recognised just how smart the city of Newcastle really is.

Newcastle City Council is today welcoming $5 million from the government under their Smart Cities and Suburbs program to put towards council's Smart Move Newcastle, part of Council's Smart City vision to boost the use of digital technology throughout the city in vehicles and infrastructure.

Assistant Minister for Cities Angus Taylor and
Newcastle Council Interim CEO Angus Taylor.

Council is more than matching the government's amount together with their partners putting $10 million towards the project as well.

Assistant Minister for Cities Angus Taylor was in Newcastle today to announce the funding and says Newcastle has the potential to lead the rest of the world.

"We'll be pioneering technology here for Australia and that are leading not just Australia but the world. This is a great opportunity not just to make Newcastle a better place to live and work but also give Newcastle the chance to really be a pioneer Australia wide and globally in these sorts of technologies," said Minister Taylor.

The funding will go towards supporting a range of initiatives including:
- An electric vehicle hub
- Autonomous vehicle trials
- Bus stops with technology to provide real-time information such as when the next bus is due
- Roads with real-time traffic analysis to give emergency vehicles green lights and alert commuters of traffic jams
- Sensors in buildings to monitor and manage energy use
- Cameras in smart light poles to analyse cloud coverage and estimate solar energy production

Council Interim CEO Jeremy Bath said the digital solutions will better the city in terms of infrastructure, transport and everything in between.

"Newcastle is a city that has always prided itself on its innovation and the Federal Government is joining with council and a number of companies from around Australia and indeed across the world showing they have the faith and the belief in Newcastle," said Jeremy.

"We really welcome the funding and welcome the interest from the Federal Government, Angus you can come back anytime with the chequebook!" said Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald.