Govt seeks smart cities tips from Netherlands, UK

Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation Angus Taylor is visiting the Netherlands and the UK to help guide the execution of the government’s smart cities and digital agenda.

Taylor will meet with Dutch and British government representatives, including those responsible for delivering the Greater Cambridge City Deal in the UK, to support the development of city deals in Australia.

City deals are designed to support research and economic growth in cities by attracting investments in transport infrastructure improvements and the construction of new homes as well as jobs and employment training opportunities.

By adopting the model Australia is attempting to apply new financing models to city infrastructure planning, Taylor said.

“The UK began doing City Deals in its regional cities in 2011, and there is a lot to learn from its experience,” he said.

“The UK has adopted new approaches to building smart cities — funding partnerships with the private sector, increasing housing supply through higher density development near railway stations and integration of industry, particularly tertiary education, into early-stage planning for city growth.”

Taylor will also meet with Dutch government officials and representatives of the local tech sector to secure their involvement in smart cities planning in Australia in support of the new Smart Cities and Suburbs Program.

Image courtesy of Sebastiaan ter Burg under CC

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