Senator briefed on Council's digital hub plan

Noosa Mayor Tony Wellington today met with Federal Senator Fiona Nash to brief her on Council’s new Peregian Beach digital hub project.

As well as Deputy Leader of The Nationals, Senator Nash is Minister for Regional Development.

“It was a terrific opportunity for Council’s Community Services Director Alan ‘Fox' Rogers and I to introduce Senator Nash to the project, on site at Peregian Beach,” the Mayor said.

“This initiative will provide ongoing benefits to our region, and we are hopeful that we may be able to garner the Federal Government’s support.

“The new Building Better Regions Fund is one such possibility. It allows smaller councils like Noosa Council to enjoy opportunities that may otherwise be overtaken by the clamour from big city councils,” Cr Wellington said.

Mr Rogers said Council had already heard from 14 companies, both from the local area and around southeast Queensland, that were interested in being part of the new hub.

With its high-speed internet, proximity to the airport and other regional centres, and the fact it’s already home to successful digital entrepreneurs, Peregian Beach is the ideal location.

A digital hub has several anchor tenants, but is managed and organised to bring people, information and ideas together to produce strategic results.

“The Rufous Street hub will provide high-tech facilities and services, meeting rooms, and shared work and event spaces. It will help develop new ventures, nurture collaborative projects and train tomorrow’s entrepreneurs,” Mr Rogers said.

Council has set aside $1.5 million to build the hub in its 2016/17 budget, and will soon invite tenders for design and construction of stage one.

“While we are still waiting for the guidelines to be released, we are hoping that our exciting Peregian digital hub project will fit the bill for support under the Building Better Regions Fund,” Mayor Wellington said.

Senator Nash was accompanied by Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien, Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien, and Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace.

23 September 2016