Far West NSW and Broken Hill Digital Economy Strategy – Draft for Consultation 16 December 2011
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Far West NSW and Broken Hill Digital Economy Strategy Draft for Consultation Released 16 December 2011 1 Far West NSW and Broken Hill Digital Economy Strategy – Draft for Consultation 16 December 2011 Developed by Symphony3 www.symphony3.com Regional Development Australia Far West NSW www.rdafarwestnsw.org.au Broken Hill City Council www.brokenhill.nsw.gov.au 2 Far West NSW and Broken Hill Digital Economy Strategy – Draft for Consultation 16 December 2011 One of the magnificent sculptures, on the outskirts of Broken Hill at the Living Desert Find out more at http://www.visitbrokenhill.com.au/pages/the-living-desert-sculptures/ 3 Far West NSW and Broken Hill Digital Economy Strategy – Draft for Consultation 16 December 2011 Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Approach ............................................................................................................................................. 6 The Framework ................................................................................................................................... 7 The Cluster Effect ................................................................................................................................ 8 Digital Economy Goals ............................................................................................................................ 9 Business............................................................................................................................................... 9 Creative Industries ............................................................................................................................ 10 Mining ............................................................................................................................................... 14 Tourism ............................................................................................................................................. 15 Small and Medium Enterprises ......................................................................................................... 16 Agriculture ........................................................................................................................................ 19 Households ....................................................................................................................................... 20 Low Socio-Economic Households ................................................................................................. 21 The Digital Divide .......................................................................................................................... 23 Local Government ............................................................................................................................. 24 Broken Hill City Council ................................................................................................................. 24 Central Darling Shire Council ........................................................................................................ 27 The Unincorporated Area of Far West NSW ................................................................................. 28 Health and Aged Care ....................................................................................................................... 29 Education .......................................................................................................................................... 34 Environment ..................................................................................................................................... 37 Next Steps ............................................................................................................................................. 39 Your Input ......................................................................................................................................... 40 APPENDIX .............................................................................................................................................. 41 About Far West NSW ........................................................................................................................ 41 Key Regional Goals ............................................................................................................................ 42 4 Far West NSW and Broken Hill Digital Economy Strategy – Draft for Consultation 16 December 2011 Dear Friends of Far West NSW In the Far West New South Wales (NSW) The rollout of high speed broadband presents region of Australia, we believe the strengths the Far West NSW region with the best that our community has displayed in the past opportunity it has had in generations to are the same strengths that can be revitalised develop our businesses and industries, and to with internet technology to drive our future. support all our residents in the region. We The digital economy and high speed wish to progress our region as a whole and broadband will provide the foundations for truly commit to building an environmentally Far West NSW to become a leading region in and commercially sustainable community. This Australia (and the world) in: strategy shares with you how our region intends to capitalise on this exciting new exporting core mining skills and technology. mining expertise across the globe developing unique rural creative This strategy document will be available for industry services public comment until 31 March 2012, and is delivering remote education considered a living, changing document. It’s a methodologies and processes digital economy strategy; therefore we will be delivering remote health accepting feedback on our website methodologies and processes (www.digitalfarwestnsw.com.au) by way of offering unique and iconic tourism the comments section on the bottom of each experiences that encapsulate outback page. However, given the current Australia infrastructure constraints in sections of our region, and the inability of some people to Whilst the region has some social challenges, access the internet, we will also be accepting including disenfranchised low income families, paper-based comments. high unemployment, health issues, and disengaged youth, high speed broadband like It is to be acknowledged that this strategy that delivered by the National Broadband development has been jointly funded by RDA Network (NBN) provides the opportunity to Far West NSW and the Broken Hill City tackle these issues in a variety of new ways. Council. Thanks go to all the local stakeholders However, unless access to the digital economy and community members who assisted in is made available to all, there is a danger of a development of this early draft for “digital divide” developing. The Far West consultation. We gratefully acknowledge the NSW region is committed to ensuring that superior knowledge and understanding of this from the outset we build an inclusive strategy topic by our chosen subject matter expert, that will address the issue of a digital divide. Fergal Coleman of Symphony3. What is more, the processes and strategies built in this region to counter the digital divide We look forward to your input in helping can become a blueprint for narrowing the gap shape this strategy. throughout regional Australia. Yours sincerely Linda Nadge Frank Zaknich Executive Officer General Manager RDA Far West NSW Broken Hill City Council 5 Far West NSW and Broken Hill Digitatl Economy Strategy – Draft for Consultation 16 December 2011 Introduction Approach The purpose of this digital economy strategy The digital economy is more than pipes in the is to provide a guiding document for the Far ground. There is no doubt that the West NSW region to maximise use of high infrastructure is an important enabler, speed broadband and to enable the however the digital economy is really about community to embrace the future digital people being enabled to work together more economy with confidence. effectively. It’s about companies bringing their products and services to the world. It’s about The document outlines our overall approach, young and old receiving the health care they followed by sections outlining how high speed need no matter where in the country they broadband will benefit the following areas: live. It’s about our children being able to Business access world class education ensuring they Households (Including Low Socio- have a positive and productive future and can Economic Households) fulfil their potential. Local Government In our approach, we view high speed Health and Aged Care broadband not as an end in itself, but simply Education as a medium that will allow the region to Environment better build on and promote its existing strengths and capabilities. As Dr Tim Williams Each section includes a future vision, explains, “We don’t talk about an electricity discusses the current state and opportunities, economy”1. Electricity is simply an enabler we and concludes with recommended actions. take for granted. The digital economy and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLwIlsuJ high speed broadband should be viewed in H3M the same light. We acknowledge the overall national digital economy strategy and have replicated the structure of the national strategy in our regional digital strategy. We have addressed the eight goals of the national strategy