great south coast digital strategy · several areas in the gsc region were identified including...

Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation and Lateral Plains

Great South Coast Digital Strategy Final report

Prepared by:

Assoc Prof Helen Thompson & Jennifer Corbett George Fong

Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation Lateral Plains

Status: Final Version: 1.0 Date: 29/06/2016

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Table of contents Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1

Aims ..................................................................................................................................................... 1

Methodology ....................................................................................................................................... 2

Review of the 2011 Great South Coast Regional Communications Strategy ...... 2

2011 strategy ....................................................................................................................................... 2

Regional ICT Progress ....................................................................................................................... 3 Colac Otway Shire Council ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Warrnambool City Council ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Corangamite Shire Council ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Glenelg Shire Council .............................................................................................................................................. 8 Southern Grampians Shire Council ...................................................................................................................... 10 Southern Coast Regional Strategic Plan 2014 – 2019 ........................................................................................ 11

Great South Coast Digital Strategy survey results ............................................... 12

Review ............................................................................................................................................... 13

Policy context ........................................................................................................... 14

Federal Government ......................................................................................................................... 14 NBN Rollout .......................................................................................................................................................... 14 National Innovation and Science Agenda ............................................................................................................ 17 Entrepreneurs’ Programme .................................................................................................................................. 17 Cyber Security Strategy ........................................................................................................................................ 18 Cyber Security Small Business Grants program .................................................................................................. 18 Industry Skills Fund .............................................................................................................................................. 19

State government ............................................................................................................................. 19 Regional Infrastructure Fund ................................................................................................................................ 19 Regional Jobs Fund .............................................................................................................................................. 19 Stronger Regional Communities Plan .................................................................................................................. 20 Future Industries Fund ......................................................................................................................................... 20 Food Source Victoria ............................................................................................................................................ 21 Horticulture Innovation Fund ................................................................................................................................ 21 Regional Development and Touring ..................................................................................................................... 21 Public Sector Innovation Fund ............................................................................................................................. 21 LaunchVic ............................................................................................................................................................. 22 Grow Your Business ............................................................................................................................................. 22 Small Business Mentoring Program ..................................................................................................................... 22 Access Program ................................................................................................................................................... 22 Remote Work and Telecommuting ....................................................................................................................... 23 Investment and Business Attraction ..................................................................................................................... 23

Reflections linked to the policy context .......................................................................................... 24 NBN Delivery Approach ........................................................................................................................................ 24 National Advocacy Groups ................................................................................................................................... 24 Points of Interconnect ........................................................................................................................................... 24

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Wi-Fi Hotspots ...................................................................................................................................................... 25 Advocacy for Mobile Blackspots ........................................................................................................................... 25

Maximising Broadband Benefit ....................................................................................................... 25 NBN and Retail Service Provider Liaison............................................................................................................. 25 Supporting Business and Community Awareness ............................................................................................... 26 Supporting NBN Uptake ....................................................................................................................................... 26 Local Government as Exemplars in Online Service Delivery .............................................................................. 27 Open Data............................................................................................................................................................. 28 GSC Digital Champions ........................................................................................................................................ 29 Videoconferencing ................................................................................................................................................ 29 Business Hubs and Co-working Spaces .............................................................................................................. 30

Action plan ................................................................................................................ 31

Appendix 1 ................................................................................................................ 34

Great South Coast Digital Strategy survey ..................................................................................... 34 Your business ....................................................................................................................................................... 34 Digital technology adoption .................................................................................................................................. 35 The future.............................................................................................................................................................. 37

Appendix 2 ................................................................................................................ 39

Great South Coast Digital Strategy survey results ........................................................................ 39

Appendix 3 ................................................................................................................ 48

Great South Coast Digital Strategy interview schedule................................................................. 48

Appendix 4 ................................................................................................................ 49

Great South Coast Digital Strategy LGA representatives interview schedule ............................. 49

Appendix 5 ................................................................................................................ 50

Mobile Black Spot Database ............................................................................................................ 50 Colac Otway Shire ................................................................................................................................................ 50 Glenelg Shire ........................................................................................................................................................ 50 Southern Grampians Shire ................................................................................................................................... 50 Colac Otway Shire ................................................................................................................................................ 50 Corangamite Shire ................................................................................................................................................ 51 Glenelg Shire ........................................................................................................................................................ 51 Moyne Shire .......................................................................................................................................................... 51 Southern Grampians Shire ................................................................................................................................... 52 Warrnambool City Council .................................................................................................................................... 52

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List of tables Table 1 Action plan strategies 31

List of figures Figure 1: Victorian Regions and Regional Cities. .................................................................................. 1

Figure 2: Map of South West Victoria showing NBN coverage in December 2015. .............................. 3

Figure 3: Map of Australia showing NBN coverage in May 2016. ....................................................... 14

Figure 4: Map of South West Victoria showing NBN coverage in 2016. .............................................. 15

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Introduction The Australian Government is currently investing in a rollout of high-speed broadband across Australia through the National Broadband Network (NBN). In preparation for the rollout, Commonwealth and State Governments have been encouraging regions to prepare digital economy strategies to ensure communities are ready for the opportunities that this infrastructure will bring.

The Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation (CeRDI) at Federation University Australia and Lateral Plains have been contracted by Regional Development Australia Barwon South West Committee to develop a digital strategy for the Great South Coast (GSC) region. The region includes the local government areas of Colac Otway Shire, Corangamite Shire, Glenelg Shire, Moyne Shire, Southern Grampians Shire and Warrnambool City Council (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Victorian Regions and Regional Cities1.

This strategy builds on the 2011 Great South Coast Regional Communication Strategy developed by CeRDI and Lateral Plains and provides the region with a clear and informed direction to take advantage of the future opportunities presented by next generation broadband.

Aims

This research aimed to determine the region’s level of business uptake of digital solutions that enhance productivity and profit, level of digital maturity in businesses and exemplar businesses that are contributing to or have the potential to contribute to the growth of the region’s digital economy.

1 Regional Development Victoria, ‘Victorian Regions and Regional Cities’, 2016, <www.rdv.vic.gov.au/victorian-regions>, accessed 2 May 2015.


Methodology

In order to determine regional uptake of digital solutions, local businesses were invited to participate in a survey gauging their level of technology adoption and engagement with digital technologies. Interviews with local government representatives were also conducted to highlight digital adoption in the region and to illustrate what has been and could be achieved through the successful implementation of digital initiatives.

Review of the 2011 Great South Coast Regional Communications Strategy The Great South Coast Regional Communication Strategy: Getting Connected to the NBN was produced as a resource to support advocacy for an early rollout of NBN, benchmark residents’ internet and mobile connectivity, profile businesses using digital technologies and explore the challenges they were facing due to the poor internet infrastructure availability.

2011 strategy

NBN Co Limited was established on 9 April 2009 to design, build and operate Australia’s next generation broadband network. The NBN project highlighted a lack of adequate broadband and communications infrastructure across the country and committed to ensuring all Australians would gain access to high-speed broadband.

The GSC Councils sought to be proactive by assessing the broadband and communications infrastructure available for community and business. In 2011 they commissioned an ICT and communications strategy for the region. Motivations included enhancing regional readiness for high speed broadband and profiling the region early on in NBN rollout.

The dilemma facing the GSC Councils was twofold. On the one hand it was clear that there were significant social and economic benefits to be obtained from future broadband and communications technologies, however there was concern about ‘overheating’ expectations within businesses and the community given that the GSC region was not yet scheduled for the NBN rollout.

In November 2012 a fire at Warrnambool’s main telecommunications exchange severely disrupted communications and broadband services in the region. The economic and social consequences of this event were subsequently documented in an impact report developed by the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) and RMIT University2.

In late 2014 NBN Co Limited released a schedule of construction work for the rollout to June 20163. Several areas in the GSC region were identified including Hamilton, Warrnambool and Mortlake. For the first time there was a clear indication of when the regional NBN rollout would commence. In October 2015 NBN Co Limited released its three year construction plan providing more detail, including the start dates for construction in the GSC region4.

2 M.A. Gregory & K. Scholfield, ‘Warrnambool Exchange Fire: Consumer and social impact analysis’, Australian Communications and Consumer Action Network [website], May 2014,Warrnambool Exchange Fire Consumer Impact Analysis, <https://accan.org.au/files/Grants/ 2014%20RMIT%20Warrnambool%20report_final.pdf>, accessed 2 December 2015. 3 NBN Australia, ‘NBN Co Rolls Out New National Construction Plan’, NBN Australia [website], 1 December 2014, Media releases, <www.nbnco.com.au/corporate-information/media-centre/ media-releases/nbnco-rolls-out-new-national-construction-plan.html>, accessed 2 December 2015. 4 NBN Australia, ‘Three-year Construction Plan’, NBN Australia [website], 16 October 2015, Learn About the NBN Network, <www.nbnco.com.au/corporate-information/media-centre/media-releases/nbnco-rolls-out-new-national-construction-plan.html>, accessed 2 December 2015.


Figure 2: Map of South West Victoria showing NBN coverage in December 20155.

Construction of the NBN fixed wireless network across the GSC (illustrated in purple above) has progressed with many localities now capable of receiving broadband connections of up to 50 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, eclipsing prior ADSL services.

Regional ICT Progress

An underpinning philosophy of the 2011 strategy was that ICT and communications strategies should form part of broader regional social and economic strategies. Desktop research and interviews with Council Officers were used to obtain an update on regional ICT plans and strategies for participating Councils.

Colac Otway Shire Council

The fixed line build for the NBN commenced in Colac, Colac East and Elliminyt during February 2016, with fixed wireless work also underway in the Colac surrounds.

The Colac Otway Shire is developing a new economic development strategy which will also encompass digital strategies. Priority economic sectors for the shire include food processing and production, tourism, health care and public administration.

Tourism recently overtook agriculture and manufacturing in terms of regional income generation. Business promotion, product development and digital technology skills are particularly high in the tourism sector.

There are tourism businesses that rent out houses, particularly on the coast – those operators fill properties 365 days a year. There is a lot to learn from their approach to online marketing,

5 NBN Australia, ‘Check the NBN Network Rollout Map’, NBN Australia [website], 2015, Develop or Plan with NBN, <www.nbnco.com.au/develop-or-plan-with-the-nbn/check-rollout-map.html>, accessed 2 December 2015.


promotion etc.… If they get a bad review on TripAdvisor they respond directly, treating information online as an opportunity to improve… People using digital networks to respond to feedback are the ones who will do well in the future. [LGA representative interview]

Quality visitor experience is increasingly linked to the availability of high quality broadband services (including Wi-Fi such as 3G and 4G mobile services). For example:

Brae Restaurant6 has been established in Birregurra. Within its first year this modern restaurant, set on 30 productive acres was awarded Three Hats by The Age Good Food Guide. In 2015 Brae was ranked number 87 in the San Pellegrino World’s Best Restaurants list and number three in Australian Gourmet Traveller Magazine’s 2016 Restaurant Awards. Dan Hunter was named 2016 Chef of the Year in both The Age Good Food Guide and Australian Gourmet Traveller Magazine. Menu price is $190 per person with $125 per person for matched wines. In addition to establishing the restaurant, six luxury guest suites are available for overnight stays.

People fly in from Sydney to dine at Brae Restaurant and fly straight back… In this market sector customers expect and need good digital connections… expectations today are for the same access to wireless internet and broadband as in Smith Street, Sydney. [LGA representative interview]

Colac Otway Shire is continuing to lobby for improved broadband and mobile telecommunications7 and enhanced technology access8.

Colac Otway Shire has the highest proportion of homes without internet connection in all of the Great South Coast municipalities, 19% below the Victorian average and the lowest in the Barwon South West.

There is growing community demand to communicate with Council via social media.

There is demand for increased online services to be available from Council.

On occasions where portable broadband services have been brought into the region to support emergency services the whole community has benefited. The lack of mobile broadband is a safety issue on some major regional roads. It also negatively impacts on the visitor experience, with mobile broadband and the maps it delivers becoming more and more important for way finding, whether for the tourism, emergency or other sectors.

In sectors including agriculture and manufacturing, sophisticated technologies are being successfully adopted:

Regal Cream9 was established as Bulla Cream Co in 1922 and has been an early adopter of robotics. Automation was introduced at Regal Cream’s greenfield plant in 2008 with products now palletized using four robotic palletizing systems with robots, two laser-guided automated vehicles and a pallet management system.

Australian Lamb Company (ALC)10 sells products from its Colac and Melbourne facilities to hotels, resorts, restaurants, supermarkets and butchers from over 60 countries worldwide. Leading edge practices and technologies are evident throughout the ALC operations. In processing lamb and mutton a number of automated processes ensure that the end product is of

6 Theodore Farm – Australia http://www.delaval.com.au/en/-/Meet-our-customers/Theodore-Farm/, accessed 8 May 2016. www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Files/ Colac_Otway_Shire_Economic_Action_Agenda.pdf>, 19, accessed 2 December 2015. 7 ibid, 41. 8 Colac Otway Shire, Colac Otway Shire Economic Development Action Agenda 2009 - 2013: Positioning for future business opportunity and growth (2009), <www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Files/ Colac_Otway_Shire_Economic_Action_Agenda.pdf>, 19, accessed 2 December 2015. 9 ABB in Australia, Robots Benefit New Regal Cream Plant http://www.abbaustralia.com.au/cawp/seitp202/216c7cc3415b0811c12573ca00369392.aspx accessed 8 May 2016 10 Australian Lamb Company, http://www.austlambco.com.au, accessed 8 May 2016


the highest quality. Examples include robotic Y-Cutter, robotic fat evisceration and a peltomatic. ACL have also installed a traceability system on the process floor to provide insight into individual carcase tracking and farm of origin. This system provides additional feedback of data for improved productivity and decision making both on farm and in the processing environment; biosecurity advantages; animal welfare compliance measurement; food safety trace back within the supply chain; and assuring domestic and export market access.

Our local abattoir is shifting away from heavy manual handling to robotics – employment is up by about 150 to around 600… different type of jobs – more technical and machinery operation – more product control and quality assurance, more ventilation and air-conditioning technicians – a positive thing building more resilient, higher skilled jobs. [LGA representative interview]

Theodore Farm11 is a 480 hectare dairy farm with a herd size of 800 cows utilising a rotary milking system. Automatic drafting is one of the key benefits saving time with sorting of cows for insemination, pregnancy testing, drenching and veterinary visits. The system also detects cow heats, and allows cows to be fed individually, when required. Reports can be generated from the digital herd management program which save time and take a lot of the guess work out of the farm management.

Retreat Creek12 more recently has installed Australia’s second robotic rotary automatic milking system. The robotic rotary was developed for the automatic milking of larger, grazing herds by dairy equipment company DeLaval in collaboration with the FutureDairy team.

Australian Kiln Driers has also moved to robotics – this brings a whole new degree of technology and skills… skilled labour can be a gap but as this transition occurs we need people with robotics skills… generally expect the market to respond – Local Government’s role is to facilitate. [LGA representative interview]

The education sector is also active in growing interest and skills in the area of robotics. Trinity College has competed in robotics competitions over a number of years and in 2015 sent two teams to Adelaide to compete in the Australian Robotics Championships13. Soccer is played by autonomous robots with built-in sonic sensors, kickers, omni-wheels, electronic compasses and infrared sensors to detect the ball and colour sensors for field position. There is usually an attacker and a goalie and the aim is to score as many goals as possible in two five-minute halves. Both Trinity College teams qualified to compete in the World's Robotics Competition in Qatar in 2015 and in India in 2016.

Continued digital disruption is expected in areas such as tourism and animal production and sales. For example, digital platforms such as Auctions Plus14 which offers real-time internet auctions for products including sheepskins, grain and livestock already account for eight percent of eastern seaboard livestock market sales. This has potential implications for regional sale yards such as the Colac Livestock Selling Centre.

The idea that we need physical facilities to sell things is changing… more and more people are moving to direct sales processes… it is all about having a well-educated market of buyers

11 Theodore Farm – Australia http://www.delaval.com.au/en/-/Meet-our-customers/Theodore-Farm/, accessed 8 May 2016. www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Files/ Colac_Otway_Shire_Economic_Action_Agenda.pdf>, 19, accessed 2 December 2015. 12 The Australian Dairy Farmer, New Robot Partner Farm http://adf.farmonline.com.au/news/magazine/equipment-and-technology/general/new-robot-partner-farm/2688103.aspx accessed 8 May 2016 13 Trinity Collect Colac Newsletter No. 28 – Monday 5 October 2015 National Championships Robotics http://www.tcc.vic.edu.au/media/uploads/2015-T1-No28.pdf accessed 8 May 2016 14 Auctions Plus, http://www.auctionsplus.com.au/, accessed 8 May 2016


and sellers… so whether you buy a cow from Birregurra or grain from Cressy the buyer knows that you have the right quality for the price being sold. [LGA representative interview]

For local government there are still lots of orphaned systems with some scope for share shared services:

Between GSC Councils there are some seven GIS systems… this makes regional planning much more difficult… there must be some efficiencies if there were the same back of house mapping, payment and other systems. [LGA representative interview]

Geospatial was identified as an area of opportunity for a technology pilot as part of the GSC Digital Strategy.

LGAs tend to hold on to data when it should put out to the world for others to use… inside Council we can type in an address and find out all sorts of information… nearly all is available under freedom of information request so why isn’t it available for stakeholder and public use. [LGA representative interview]

Suggested scenarios and use cases for geospatial information provided as examples included:

Portal access for all Council planning, geotechnical and other data in one easily accessible online form.

A new milk processor that wants to start up a business and needs information about suitable land availability, buffer zone requirements and the proximity to labour or services. With a geospatial system in place it would be easy to identify three or four suitable properties and access associated planning information such as the need to bring in services.

A tourism operator or potential new operator wanting to access visitor numbers, spending source, destination of origin, other tourism providers/product offering, potential tourism growth etc. All of this information exists but is hard for businesses to access. This information would assist micro and small businesses in doing their due diligence.

Colac Otway Shire is in the process of rolling out a new council website which will include functionality to support online payments. The process to support the redevelopment has included customer focus groups and large internal workshops to determine what functions are required. Success measures will include the uptake of online payments, the ability for residents to interact with council in a way that is outside 9am – 5pm and efficiency and time savings for staff. In the future the Council would like to extend services to areas including online planning applications.

Suggested strategies for improving digital technology adoption for businesses include finding ways of exposing people to more profitable ways of doing business, exposing disruptive technologies and opening business and community leaders’ eyes to what’s possible in terms of current and future opportunities. This could be achieved through digital communication (most businesses currently prefer email – but distribution channel choice is likely to change over time) or in person in workshops.

Warrnambool City Council

Warrnambool City Council seek alliances that improve the city’s connection to the latest available communication technologies15.

In addition to working with NBN Co Limited on the rollout of fibre and other technologies to Warrnambool and the surrounding region, Council is also engaged with the State Government regarding how the newly installed fibre network running along the Warrnambool to Geelong rail corridor can be best utilised.

The Warrnambool NBN Business Forum and Expo held on 10 March 2016 explored topics including:

15 Warrnambool City Council, Warrnambool City Council Annual Report 2014-15 (2015), <www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/sites/warrnambool.vic.gov.au/files/documents/council/Annual%20Reports/annual%20report%202015%20final%20print.pdf>, 35, accessed 2 December 2015.


Remote and regional teleworking

Client engagement and digital marketing

Globalisation – the internet has no borders

Cloud services and Internet applications

Security

The forum also provided the opportunity to hear from a number of retail service providers and businesses in the technology sector.

eResources Business Systems16 services a wide range of small business, health, education and finance sectors across southwest Victoria and interstate. Partner Rob Brugman spoke about SMEs moving from owning server equipment to cloud based service. While bandwidth remains the biggest bottleneck, regional SMEs are benefiting from consistent operating costs, access to cloud based email and office software and tailored service through the Warrnambool based service provider.

Western District Employment Access17 utilises high definition video conferencing to deliver training to small geographically dispersed communities. This approach has substantially reduced car travel previously associated with delivering the same training. With the impending rollout of high-speed broadband, MultiComm Chief Innovation Officer emphasised the opportunity for regional businesses to consider new technology supported approaches to change how we work, teach, care for patients and do business.

South West Communications18 services facilitate the transmission of voice, video and data across sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, energy, education and health. They utilise high definition video conferencing to deliver training to small geographically dispersed communities. Andrew Maher provided examples including from South West Healthcare where more flexible employment arrangements are being supported with staff having the option of working from home resulting in costs savings and efficiency gains in a range of areas.

Clovertech19 is an IT service provider based in Warrnambool which focuses on making IT an enabler for small, medium and large businesses. Director David McIntyre emphasised that as part of getting customers NBN ready there was a need to ensure technology infrastructure onsite is reviewed and prepared. Cloud first business approaches require a combination of good hardware, good security and customer education if benefits are to be maximised.

Edwards Electrical Contracting20 representative Phil Edwards spoke about the benefits of having a professional review of business set up in terms of wiring. Next generation broadband and Wi-Fi provide new opportunities for remote desktop services, agriculture monitoring, security monitoring and cameras, swimming pool controllers etc.

Corangamite Shire Council

Corangamite Shire Council has developed a comprehensive ICT strategy focussed on internal operations and interactions with ratepayers and stakeholders21.

16 eResources Business Systems https://www.facebook.com/enhancedresources/info/?tab=overview accessed 8 May 2016 17 Western District Employment Access http://www.wdea.org.au accessed 8 May 2016 18 South West Communications http://www.swcomms.com.au accessed 8 May 2016 19 Clovertech http://www.clovertech.com.au accessed 8 May 2016 20 Clovertech http://www.clovertech.com.au accessed 8 May 2016 21 Corangamite Shire, ICT Strategy Corangamite Shire Council 2013-2017 (2013), <www.corangamite.vic.gov.au/images/documents/Strategies/Information-and-Communication-Technology-Strategy-2013-2017-FINAL.pdf>, accessed 2 December 2015.


There is recognition that the community is increasingly expecting to have access to Council services online with social media now a communication tool of choice for many.

By utilising cloud based services and other innovative solutions ICT costs may be reduced and productivity maximised through collaboration with regional Councils and the Municipal Association of Victoria.

Future opportunities to leverage next generation broadband include attracting service-oriented businesses, government agencies and industrial enterprises to Camperdown and Terang. High-speed internet coupled with low rents and relatively low wages could be attractive particularly for businesses in the burgeoning knowledge industries22.

Attraction of non-agricultural businesses to the Shire will increase employment diversity and make the local economy more resilient to single industry changes.

Glenelg Shire Council

NBN fixed wireless and long-term satellite services are now available in Portland and surrounds. The NBN fibre to the node (FTTN) rollout will commence in Portland in 2016 while other areas within the shire will wait until 2017-2018.

We do believe that we are missing out on opportunities but the main reason there is a reluctance is due to the limitations of dial up or ADSL services. As more people have a positive experience we will seek to expand digital service approaches. [LGA representative interview]

The Federal Government’s rollout of open access high speed fibre optic broadband is essential for the business sector. Improved mobile telephone coverage across the Shire is also necessary.

The Glenelg Shire Council Plan identifies the potential of the internet to promote the connection of people within the Shire. In terms of IT strategy the main focus in on process efficiencies and council transactions online. While most interactions between ratepayers and council continue to be face-to-face areas of digital uptake includes Facebook, online payments for rates, bookings and online payments for performing arts and some outside staff using tablets to retrieve and update work requests (potholes, signage, risk management etc.).

A digital engagement program rollout is currently underway with Bang the Table23 software being implemented to support citizen engagement.

We’ll use interesting issues for the public to get involved in Bang the Table – e.g. public art master plan – some suggestions involving seeking community views about public art – don’t want to do the boring stuff about development applications… Beyond that, Bang the Table will end up being an avenue for making comment about council work priorities, capital programs and the budget program. It will also be used where community engagement is required as part of legislative responsibilities – for example after each council election there is a requirement for a review of the strategic plan. [LGA Representative Interview]

The digital engagement program was initially put forward by Community and Culture as part of the budget process. After the Leadership Team received a five minute presentation it became obvious that this project would have a return on investment across the whole council – it would replace many paper-based processes, reduce staffing resource needs, save time and enhance reporting back on feedback and engagement processes.

Glenelg Shire Council has partnered with Southern Grampians to develop a digital strategy which mirrors some of the GSC Digital Strategy. Key goals include getting local businesses and community

22 Corangamite Shire, Corangamite Shire Economic Development Strategy 2011-2016 (2010), <www.corangamite.vic.gov.au/images/documents/Strategies/economic-development-strategy-2011-2016.pdf>, 46, accessed 2 December 2015. 23 Bang the Table http://bangthetable.com, accessed 8 May 2016.


more aware and prepared for the NBN and maximising opportunities to improve business through access to a broader customer base.

Glenelg Shire Council see benefit in having similar approaches to engaging businesses and residents as neighbouring councils during the NBN rollout. They are also committed to enhancing regional business skills through the small business workshops facilitated in areas such as website development, social media and eProcurement.

Priority economic sectors include agriculture, timber, mineral sands, dairy, food, tourism (visiting tourism, fishing tourism and adventure tourism) and transport.

The timber industry includes pines and blue gums with the Port of Portland the largest exporter of wood products in Australia:

Wood chips and logs are exported to Japan, China and Korea… It is a busy port – you can see in action - the loading process, B-double trucks loading from mountains of wood chip 40-50 metres high, the trucks being lifted, the people coming into port. [LGA representative interview]

Port of Portland24 is a deep-water bulk port strategically located between the ports of Melbourne and Adelaide. The Port specialises in bulk commodities, particularly agricultural, forestry and mining products as well as aluminium and fertiliser. It has approximately six million tonnes in annual throughput. The export trade includes grain, woodchips, logs, aluminium ingots and livestock, while import commodities are alumina, liquid pitch and fertiliser products. The Port is served by both road and rail systems. It delivers $2.5 billion into the region and the nation each year - a figure that will continue to grow.

One of the major developments in the tourism sector has been Portland’s growing reputation as a cruise ship destination.

Council started working on attracting cruise ships ten years ago… The reputation of Portland as a cruise ship destination is growing – now held in high regard… Ten years in the making and council and the local community only reaping benefits now. Each cruise ship visit has a flow on benefit of $1M – six last season – more evident that local businesses positive about the impact – electricians got benefit; food suppliers; market providers; local shops including the op shops very popular and unexpected. [LGA representative interview]

Innovative partnerships have been critical to the building the visitor experience for cruise ship tourism. For example Council worked with South West TAFE to source tourism students as ambassadors. Students have learned about touring products, local features and attractions. They have been recognised as very important aspect to visitor orientation and experience. Some graduating students have continued to return to Portland and volunteer as tourism ambassadors each season.

Council has also collaborated with local schools to source buses and drivers for cruise ship visitors to get from the Portland Wharf to the Visitor Centre. Markets established in the middle of town and a range of new tourism products have been developed to support this and other tourism markets.

Social media is playing an increasingly significant role in the promotion of fishing tourism. When large fish are being caught, stories are published and shared everywhere via Instagram and Facebook.

Social media is the thing that is happening most – it is making it clear to businesses they can get instant gratification for high customer service, but poor customer services is quickly known as well. [LGA representative interview]

Opportunities for technology pilots locally and regional include:

Aggregating regional transport, freight and logistics requirements.

Collaborative tendering - linking up different components of regional capability to tender for larger jobs.

24 Port of Portland http://www.portofportland.com.au accessed 9 May 2016


Tourism promotion – better linking bookings for tours/accommodation – prove through a pilot that it can work across Portland, Casterton and Nelson and then expand.

Tourism product development – including the potential use of drones.

Precision agriculture opportunities with sensors, drones, trough and stock monitoring etc.

Surveyors and building companies are increasingly utilising digital technologies – they have taken on 3D imaging, drones for doing inspections of silos or drainage issues for a large water tower. In the tourism industry we could be using drones to go whale spotting with live feeds back into the visitor information centre. [LGA representative interview]

Green energy is also an area of economic development opportunities.

Kepple Prince Engineering25 specialises in the construction, fabrication and maintenance of industrial structures and equipment. From wind farms to bridges, green energy (wind, solar, wave and hydro) and mobile cranes the Kepple Prince team of 265 professionals delivers a range of solutions to build and maintain a sustainable future for customers, the environment and the community.

Digital technology adoption barriers remain in a number of areas. These include technology connectivity issues; older operators who are slow to change with paper-based stock control and receipting programs and some cash-only businesses.

A lack of three phase power in some areas may mean that new agriculture and other technologies may be difficult to implement.

Southern Grampians Shire Council

Southern Grampians Shire identify connectivity as a key to business investment in the Shire. Improved mobile telephone coverage across the Shire is also necessary26.

The Federal Government’s rollout of open access high-speed fibre optic broadband is essential for the business sector and for residents. The importance attributed to maximising the benefit of the NBN rollout demonstrated through Southern Grampians Shire’s collaboration with Glenelg Shire on the development of a joint Digital Strategy27.

As a result of a restructure there is now a more user centric focus for ICT accountability within Council. A collaborative approach to change management has been supported with a real focus on digitising a lot of council activities, empowering staff to take the journey, increasing staff knowledge and maximising the configuration and use of IT systems. There is a vision for a paperless council and for stakeholders and customers to be able to transact and interact with council from any device. There are plans for migrating physical server equipment to the cloud in the future.

As part of its overall digital plans, Southern Grampian Shire is progressing the development of a new website which will be based very much on end user requirements. The Council is also progressing down the open data path with 18 datasets currently available via www.data.gov.au and further datasets published via data.vic.gov.au.

25 Kepple Prince Engineering www.keppelprince.com accessed 9 May 2016 26 Southern Grampians Shire Council, Southern Grampians Shire Council Plan 2013-2017: Our vision to be Australia’s most liveable provincial community (2013), <www.sthgrampians.vic.gov.au/Files/ Council_Plan_2013_2017.pdf>, 22, accessed 2 December 2015 27 Glenelg and Southern Grampians, Our Digital Strategy (2015), <www.ourdigitalstrategy.com>, accessed 2 December 2015.


Published datasets on data.gov.au include garbage collection zones, waste collection points, public toilets, footpaths, disabled parking, road management, council managed laneways, neighbourhood safer places, camping sites, child care centres, tourism information, public gardens, reserves, aquatic facilities, playgrounds, skate parks and sports grounds.

The open data approach has made it much easier for Council to respond to information requests from organisations including NBN Co Limited for a whole lot of planning scheme and other data.

A new maps section has been integrated with the Southern Grampians Council website. This functionality is supported by InteraMaps. The impetus for this was a state government funded land capability project which explored what could be grown where in the future based on different scenarios for a changing climate (see growingreaterhamilton.com.au).

Out of the VASP project we ended up with a report on what commodities can currently be grown here and what can be produced in 2050. We found that a spatial approach was better to communicate the land capability project outcomes. This has enabled far better utilisation of the data and given farmers some real-time decision useful tools – for example measure blocks and view aerial photography. Council becoming proactive in responding to requests – for example we’ve recently added contour information.

The spatial presentation of land capability information also provides an evidence base to go to government for co-investment in infrastructure such as green (solar, wind), blue (pipeline points, recycled water opportunities, pipelines) to support new horticulture development or more intensive farming viable and brown (power or gas).

Southern Coast Regional Strategic Plan 2014 – 2019

The Southern Coast Regional Strategic Plan 2014 – 2019 identified the following:

Significantly improving public transport, telecommunications and social networks to support lifestyles and industry across the region, including in smaller rural settlements.

Modern telecommunications and high-speed internet will be accessible to all and will serve to improve the competitive position of our businesses and industries28.

28 Great South Coast Group, Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan 2014-19 (2014), <www.greatsouthcoast.com.au/images/downloads/GSC-StrategicPlan-2014-19-web.pdf>, 17, accessed 2 December 2015.


Key challenges29:

Gaining access for all to telecommunications services and high-speed internet.

Key issues and challenges for the region’s economy include30:

Lack of access to high-speed broadband.

Improved connections within and beyond the GSC region include31:

Transport, power, internet and telecommunications are critical components of the GSC regional economy, liveability and social cohesiveness.

Key drivers of these are industry (particularly in agriculture, timber and mineral sands), climate change impacts, the rise of nature-based tourism, shifting populations, changing work patterns and telecommuting, the rise of eHealth and our ageing population.

Key issues and challenges for the region’s connectivity include32:

The lack of access to high-speed broadband.

Mobile telephone blackspots.

Strategic goals include33:

Advocating for high-speed broadband to be accessible to all residents.

Identifying and seeking to address the connectivity needs of all communities.

Great South Coast Digital Strategy survey results As part of the Great South Coast Digital Strategy an online survey was developed to gauge the level of technology adoption by businesses across the GSC region (see Appendix 1). The survey was completed by 33 respondents from Warrnambool City Council (n=19), Moyne Shire Council (n=10), and Corangamite Shire Council (n=4).

Respondents represented the views of businesses from a number of sectors including retail (n=7), accommodation and food services (n=4), construction (n=3), education and training (n=3), and health care and social assistance (n=3). The majority of businesses had been operating for more than three years (n=29), ranged in size from micro to large businesses and serviced a mix of local, Victorian, national and international markets.

Of the 33 respondents, only 11 businesses had access to high-speed broadband at the time of the survey. However, the majority indicated that their current internet connection was sufficient for their current business needs (n=26).

Respondents indicated that their businesses were supported by the use a range of technologies including smartphones (n=26), laptops (n=25), PCs (n=24) and tablets (n=23).

A range of digital technologies have also been adopted by the businesses including email (n=30), websites (n=26), social media (n=21) and cloud services (n=18). Digital technologies with lower levels of adoption included search engine optimisation (n=12), paid internet advertisements (n=11), eCommerce (n=10), customer relationship management systems (n=9) and web analytics (n=9).

Digital technologies were indicated to be important or very important to 88 percent of businesses, and 66 percent evaluated their business’s level of digital technology adoption to be high or very high. Six businesses had a documented digital strategies, nine had an undocumented strategy and a further eight indicated that their business has plans to create a digital strategy this year.

29 ibid, 19. 30 ibid, 21. 31 ibid, 22. 32 ibid, 23. 33 ibid, 23.


In terms of the websites of responding businesses, 44 percent indicated that they update the content on their website frequently or very frequently, and many had optimised their website for viewing on a mobile device (n=17). Respondents also indicated that their businesses accepted orders from their customers using a range of methods including email (n=24), phone (n=24), in-store (n=18), online (n=16), and via fax (n=9).

The vast majority of businesses had a Facebook profile (n=22) and half of respondents add new content to their social media channels frequently or very frequently.

The adoption of digital technologies in these businesses was attributed to benefits such as an expanded customer base (n=19) and increased exposure (n=19), with only two businesses having received no benefits. The vast majority of employees of the responding businesses had an intermediate level of technology skills to support their role in the business (n=21).

Half of responding businesses believed that digital technologies will be important or very important to their future growth and competitiveness. It was also highlighted that the cost of implementation (n=13) and lack of technology expertise (n=10) were potential barriers to increasing business adoption of digital technologies this year.

Review

GSC Councils are aware of the significance of broadband and communication infrastructure to the community and businesses. There is also clear evidence and understanding of deficiencies in relation to infrastructure and services and the need for this to be addressed.

The major challenges have been in relation to what is achievable in a strategy or initiative that would improve or enhance the current position. With fixed wireless and long-term satellite services now available in many parts of the region and fibre builds underway and scheduled the uncertainty that existed around commencement of the NBN rollout has reduced.

Significant mobile blackspots remain. These together with poor mobile Wi-Fi data speeds require addressing. The following key advocacy priorities remain relevant for the GSC region34:

1. Maintain a proactive and progressive approach to creating an enabling environment for broadband deployment and ICT adoption and use.

2. Ensure ICT and broadband are clearly embedded in regional economic and social planning, development and practice.

3. Support for the establishment of the GSC Regional Communication Champions Group to focus on universally affordable access to high-speed broadband services, creating communities that use ICT services to their best advantage and encouraging ICT innovation and new initiatives throughout the general and business communities.

4. Support for advocacy targeted towards immediate improvements in mobile telecommunications and broadband services to address service blackspots and high levels of unmet demand.

5. Allocation and attraction of seed funding to support collaborative ICT projects across the region.

Digital strategies are increasingly evident as part of the economic and strategic plans and initiatives of GSC councils. Glenelg and Southern Grampians have jointly developing a Digital Strategy35. Digital activities span social media utilisation, new website developments, digital engagement strategies, open data initiatives and geospatial presentation of climate and land capability information.

34 ibid, ii. 35 Glenelg and Southern Grampians, loc.cit.


Councils have continued to engage with regional stakeholders and existing telecommunication and broadband infrastructure and service providers with a workshops, expos and forums focused on enhancing regional business skills. Regional libraries continue to providing computer and internet access.

In terms of activities and initiatives external to the operations of the Council, examples have been presented which expanded digital approaches in agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and other sectors including sensor technologies, robotics, automation and digital marketing

Policy context

Federal Government

The Australian Federal Government has maintained a focus on completing the NBN rollout as quickly as possible. There remains some controversy as to the types of technologies being rolled out in areas of high population density. Details of the different technologies that will rollout in the GSC region are set out below.

NBN Rollout

NBN coverage will reach 100 percent of Australian homes and businesses with fibre to the premise in large new developments (equal or greater than 100 premises), fibre to the node in major population centres, fixed wireless in areas outside major population centres, and long-term satellite in rural and remote areas.

NBN Co Limited is responsible for providing wholesale services to retail services providers (telephone companies and internet services providers). This allows retail service providers (RSPs) equal access to NBN infrastructure nationally. These providers then offer NBN plans for homes and business.

Progress to date is illustrated below with nearly two million premises ready for service of which approximately 400,000 are in Victoria.

Figure 3: Map of Australia showing NBN coverage in May 201636.

36 Source http://www.nbnco.com.au/learn-about-the-nbn.html accessed 8 May 2016.


In south west Victoria fixed wireless and long-term satellite services are available in many parts of the region. The fibre fixed line build has commenced in Warrnambool with a number of additional fixed wireless builds commenced.

Figure 4: Map of South West Victoria showing NBN coverage in 201637.

The Multi Technology Mix

A major area of public debate has been the adoption of the multi technology mix (MTM), which includes the use of existing hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) networks and the use of copper in (FTTN). HFC is not relevant to the GSC region as there are no existing networks. The three year rollout plan for the region includes the deployment of FTTN and where this is not practical, the deployment of fibre to the premise (FTTP).

Late last year, NBN Co Limited initiated two trials of what is formally known as Multi Technology – Local Fibre Network technology, but more popularly known as ‘Skinny Fibre’ in Mount Helen, Ballarat and in Karingal, Frankston. Information from these trials indicated that there were savings in costs and in rollout time for both FTTP and FTNN38. Other benefits of Skinny Fibre included reduced cable size, minimising congestion in ducts; reduced number and size of closures to minimise pit congestion and the reduction and, in some cases, elimination of the Fibre Distribution Hub (FDH), an enclosure that houses the optical splitters.

Based on the trails of ‘Skinny Fibre’ there is speculation that the Federal Government may consider the introduction of a new hybrid infrastructure layout known as Fibre to the Distribution Point (FTTDp).

37 Source http://www.iinet.net.au/internet/broadband/nbn/coverage/ accessed 8 May 2016. 38 www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/nbn-trials-cheaper-allfibre-option-20160302-gn8cj3.html


Essentially this would entail running fibre to the curb of a house and then utilising copper to the premise where this was feasible to do so39.

At this stage however FTTN will be the primary form of fixed line technology implemented in built up and high density population areas of the GSC.

Fibre on Demand

NBN Co Limited has an initiative known as the Technology Choices program40. The program allows for individual premises or a group of premises to switch NBN technologies. For example, if an area is designated for FTTN it may be possible to switch to FTTP at a cost. That cost is effectively a build cost and is estimated based on the complexity of the construction works and distance over which the infrastructure must be installed.

A small number of councils have put in requests for cost estimates or preliminary applications for upgrades from FTTN to FTTP. It is understood that in Victoria, Greater Shepparton City Council has lodged such an application41.

Councils may opt to assess the value and utility of the Technology Choices program in their area, but this will need to be done against a backdrop of continued technical developments in relation to the rollout of the NBN and the potential for future changes in policy directions.

Competition and Wholesale Pricing

The major broadband and telecommunications providers in the GSC region are Telstra and Optus. While both companies are likely to retain a significant proportion of their customer base, the experience in regional areas where the NBN rollout is underway or completed, has been increased competition with an increased number of RSPs. Product choice has also expanded.

The current structure of NBN wholesale pricing as it applies to RSPs is very complex and is based on a matrix of:

Access costs to one or more Points of Interconnect (POI) – there are 121 POIs across Australia. RSPs must find their own way to connect to each POI in the areas in which they want to provide services.

Access Virtual Circuit (AVC) and Connectivity Virtual Circuit (CVC) – RSPs pay a fee for the use of the NBN connection from user premises to the NBN network (the AVC) as well as network to network access for providing bandwidth to clients in that POI (the CVC). These components vary in cost depending on the size of the connection to the user premises and the amount of contention the RSP introduces into the bandwidth supply for its customers in that POI. The lower the CVC size the higher the contention, although volume discounts do apply as an incentive to increase bandwidth availability.

The impact of having 121 POIs (the original NBN plan included just 14) and the CVC costs remain an areas of concern for RSPs based around the pricing impacts for small providers which may potentially stifle competition42. NBN Co Limited has responded by recasting the CVC pricing to encourage RSPs to better provision their networks43. However, criticisms still remain about the perceived artificiality of introduced volume pricing for bandwidth delivery.

The Federal Government offers a number of programs which include incentives for research and development, support for small businesses, tax and duty concessions and assistance for industries in

39 www.itnews.com.au/news/nbn-could-flip-300000-premises-from-fttn-to-fttdp-417081 40 www.nbnco.com.au/connect-home-or-business/technology-choice-program.html 41 www.zdnet.com/article/nbn-tech-choice-program-delivers-just-three-fttp-connections-in-a-year/ 42 https://delimiter.com.au/2011/03/29/insane-nbn-pricing-will-kill-small-isps-hackett/ 43 www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/04/nbns-new-tiered-pricing-system-aims-to-reward-better-service/


transition. They also support invention and technology development in businesses by fostering collaboration between industry and researchers.

National Innovation and Science Agenda44

In December 2015, the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, launched the National Innovation and Science Agenda. The four pillars of the agenda are:

Culture and Capital – providing new tax breaks in relation to businesses taking risks and innovating. Initiatives to support Australians in embracing risk, pursuing ideas, learning from mistakes and backing ideas at an early stage include access to crowd-sourced equity funding; Biomedical Translation Fund; the CSIRO Innovation Fund; the Incubator Support Programme and reforms to employee share schemes.

Collaboration – changing funding incentives to encourage more university research in partnership with industry with initiatives including the Cyber Security Growth Centre; Global Innovation Strategy; Innovation Connections and Innovation in agriculture and regional area.

Talent and Skills – supporting students to embrace the digital age and to encourage more entrepreneurial and research talent from overseas. By developing a passion for science and innovation in young people the goal is to give them the skills needed to gain the high-wage, high-productivity jobs of the future. Initiatives include enhancing the digital age; inspiring a nation of scientists; opportunities for women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and supporting innovation through visas.

Government as an Exemplar – Public sector innovation will be accelerated by embracing new technological opportunities. Opportunities exist at all levels for government to lead by example embracing innovation and agility in the way they do business. Initiatives include the Business Research and Innovation Initiative; data sharing for innovation; establishing Data61: Australia’s digital and data innovation group and the digital marketplace.

The GSC region has the opportunity to actively participate in the National Innovation and Science Agenda programs. Benefits could accrue to local government and residents; entrepreneurs, start-ups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs); education and research and for young people.

GSC Councils could provide leadership by facilitating discussion and debate with stakeholders, with the goal of securing funding to support the innovative use of enhanced regional broadband and telecommunications infrastructure across prioritised industry and service sector activities.

Entrepreneurs’ Programme

The Entrepreneurs' Programme45 is the Australian Government’s flagship initiative for business competitiveness and productivity at the firm level. It forms part of the Australian Government’s new industry policy outlined in the National Innovation and Science Agenda. With a national network of more than 100 experienced private sector advisers and facilitators, the Entrepreneurs' Programme offers support to businesses through three elements:

Accelerating commercialisation helps entrepreneurs, researchers and businesses address key challenges in the commercialisation pathway of bringing novel products, processes and service to the market;

Business management provides advice and facilitation services to improve business capabilities and networks;

Innovation connections helps small and medium businesses access knowledge, engage with researchers and foster innovation.

44 www.innovation.gov.au/page/agenda 45 www.business.gov.au/advice-and-support/EIP/Pages/default.aspx


Practical support for businesses includes advice from people with relevant private sector experience, co-funded grants to commercialise new products, processes and services, funding to take advantage of growth opportunities, and connection and collaboration opportunities.

Cyber Security Strategy

With the advent and opportunity of significant changes in the way that business and communities interact and transact online, so too comes the increased risk of online fraud and cybercrime. There are a number of Federal and State agencies involved in cybercrime initiatives.

Recently, the Prime Minister launched the Cyber Security Strategy46, a Federal Government initiative that brings together a number of different national activities in this area. Whilst much of the strategy focuses on technical innovation in cyber defence and work in relation to cyberattacks and cybercrime, the strategy also aims to ensure that:

More people have improved knowledge of the real-world impacts of cyber risks and the way they affect our current and future prosperity.47

The Victorian Government in conjunction with CSIRO and Data61 has also announced a new Oceania Cyber Security Centre which will bring together eight Victorian universities and the Melbourne-based Defence Science Institute and major private sector partners48.

The GSC region has had first-hand experience of the detrimental impacts that can result from the catastrophic failure of telecommunications and broadband infrastructure. The Warrnambool Telstra Exchange fire severely impacted community organisations, businesses and residents over an extended period. Building on these learnings, there are opportunities to facilitate the development of Cyber Security education and information initiatives to ensure that businesses and residents are proactive in safe online practices both in terms of prevention and mitigation. The Cyber Security Strategy notes:

While the Federal Government has taken a significant step in releasing its plan to mitigate cyber risks and to work closely with those organisations that operate critical infrastructure, it’s now time for each and every business to step up and play its own role in fighting cybercrime. Cyber safety is not a competition, and the strategy’s focus on collaboration – between government and industry as well as between organisations – is the correct one.49

It will be especially important for businesses who handle electronic financial and personal data to be aware of the need to put into place and maintain good security as there are penalties and sanctions both under corporations and privacy legislation for failure to do so.

Cyber Security Small Business Grants program

The Cyber Security Small Business Grants Programme50 is an integrated grants element of the Cyber Security Strategy. The programme has two linked components:

A grant for Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers (CREST) Australia & New Zealand to scale-up cyber security accreditation services for providers and expand the range of accreditation services they offer.

46 https://cybersecuritystrategy.dpmc.gov.au 47 https://cybersecuritystrategy.dpmc.gov.au/action-plan/index.html 48 www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/victoria-to-open-cyber-security-hub-with-oxford-university/news-story/7b6f0fa6982dcc14cf283c78206ae169 49 www.lifehacker.com.au/2016/04/turnbulls-230m-cyber-security-strategy-experts-respond/ 50 www.business.gov.au/grants-and-assistance/communications/cyber-security-small-business-programme/Pages/default.aspx


Small businesses with less than 20 employees will be able to apply for a one-off grant of up to $2,100 to access cyber security testing by providers accredited by CREST Australia & New Zealand.

Applications for small business grants will be announced in the 2017-18 financial year, for grants available in 2018.

Industry Skills Fund

The Industry Skills Fund51 assists industry to invest in training and support services and to develop innovative training solutions. The fund will help build a highly skilled workforce that can take advantage of new business growth opportunities and adapt to rapid technological change.

State government

In the continuous process of reviewing and implementing economic and social strategies, the GSC Councils have an opportunity to consider what impact enhanced broadband technologies will have on attracting new employment to the region and what assistance might be available to new or incoming businesses.

The Victorian State Government maintains a strong focus on growing ICT initiatives and capabilities and developing and implementing programs that foster regional innovation and jobs growth. It offers a range of grants and other programs which could provide implementation support for the GSC Digital Strategy priorities.

Examples of State Government programs relevant in the GSC context are provided below.

Regional Infrastructure Fund

The Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF)52 is the main infrastructure program of the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund (RJIF). It aims to harness key regional strengths to improve regional Victoria’s productivity and liveability. It will invest in major infrastructure projects that create or enhance the conditions for economic growth, and build diversified and sustainable regional economies that are resilient to change.

The RIF provides public grant funding for the following four program streams:

Visitor economy

Productive and liveable cities and centres

Enabling infrastructure

Rural development

As well as supporting our regional city areas, to address the needs and capacity of rural communities RIF includes the Rural Development program stream which is available to support projects in a breadth of small towns and communities in the 38 rural LGAs. Under this program stream, grants for infrastructure are capped at $500,000 and grants for project and strategic planning are capped at $50,000.

Regional Jobs Fund

The primary aim of the Regional Jobs Fund (RJF)53 is to facilitate job creation and retain existing jobs. It will attract and facilitate investment with a focus on regional competitive advantage or high-growth potential businesses, and it will assist to diversify the regional employment base.

51 http://www.business.gov.au/grants-and-assistance/Industry-Skills-Fund/Pages/default.aspx 52 http://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/regional-jobs-and-infrastructure-fund/regional-infrastructure-fund 53 http://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/regional-jobs-and-infrastructure-fund/regional-jobs-fund


The fund aims to improve regional capacity, innovation and capitalise on the potential of emerging industry sectors, particularly the Government’s priority areas and new export markets. The RJF will provide support for strategic projects and infrastructure through the following four public grant program streams:

Investment attraction

Innovation and productivity

Employment precincts

Market access

Stronger Regional Communities Plan

The Stronger Regional Communities Plan (SRCP)54 aims to support rural and regional towns in attracting families and young people to live and work in regional Victoria. It will do so by investing in community-led initiatives and partnerships that create or enhance the conditions for economic growth, building community capabilities to drive change and improving the liveability of regional and rural towns. The SRCP supports small grants of up to $50,000 under the following two program streams:

Community Capacity Building

Population Attraction

Future Industries Fund

The $200 million Future Industries Fund55 is focused on industry sectors that have the potential to drive significant jobs growth and attract investment into the future. Key sectoral targets relevant to the GSC region include:

Food and fibre

Professional services

New energy

Construction technologies

Medical technologies and pharmaceuticals

Whilst associated funding programs have their own objectives they cover areas such as:

Supporting businesses to adopt technology, add value and create jobs.

Supporting SMEs to build export capability, including capturing eCommerce opportunities.

Improving access to ICT infrastructure and services in regional Victoria.

Encouraging better use of digital technologies and capabilities to foster growth.

Attracting capability and promoting Victoria as the national hub for digital innovation in the construction industry.

Establishing engineering and design innovation networks, and a digital financial technology services innovation hub.

Investing in Victoria’s digital future.

Piloting new technologies (demonstration plant/equipment).

54 http://www.rdv.vic.gov.au/regional-jobs-and-infrastructure-fund/stronger-regional-communities 55 http://www.business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/future-industries


Food Source Victoria

Food Source Victoria56 is a $20 million initiative aimed at supporting Victorian agri-food businesses to work together and with value chain partners to grow exports and create new jobs. Food Source Victoria’s initiatives consists of:

Grants to develop a growth plan (planning grants).

Grants for an alliance of food producers and businesses to create jobs or boost exports (growth grants).

Funding for short study and training courses to boost business growth and exports (scholarship program).

Horticulture Innovation Fund

The Horticulture Innovation Fund (HIF)57 will support industry to partner with research organisations on projects that use new technologies and techniques for improving overall economic performance. Through the HIF, the Victorian Government seeks to support a horticulture sector that is innovative, collaborative and well informed.

Grants of up to $50,000 (excluding GST) are available for applied research and development projects that contribute to a more productive and profitable horticulture sector. Projects eligible for assistance from the HIF include:

Applied horticultural research and development that is innovative and likely to improve farm performance, and/or

Research that will improve market access and business diversification activities as applied to the horticulture sector.

Preference is given to projects that are mid to late stage research, where adoption, piloting and/or trialling in Victoria is required. The program is open until 2018 and is administered by the Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR).

Regional Development and Touring

The Regional Development and Touring program58 provides funding by invitation to support Victoria's network of regional art galleries and performing arts centres. The program aims to:

Ensure that people living in regional areas have access to high quality arts and cultural facilities and their programs.

Strengthen employment and tourism opportunities in regional Victoria.

Contribute to the ability of regional cultural facilities to leverage investment and generate income.

Encourage professional management at industry standards in regional arts facilities.

Enhance liveability and increase social connection in regional centres and surrounding districts.

Public Sector Innovation Fund

The Public Sector Innovation Fund59 supports projects that test new approaches to solving complex policy challenges and delivering public value. This grant program seeks to transform innovative ideas into better outcomes for Victorians, while fostering a dynamic environment of collaboration within the Victorian public sector.

56 http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/food-and-fibre-industries/food-source-victoria 57 http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/horticulture/horticulture-innovation-fund 58 http://creative.vic.gov.au/Funding/Arts_Programs/Regional_Development_Touring/ Regional_Partnerships 59 http://www.vic.gov.au/publicsectorinnovation


The focus is on innovative projects that respond to Victorian Government policy priorities and reflect the principles and approaches of public sector reform. The Innovation Fund is open to applications from any organisation working with or within the Victorian public sector. Applications can be submitted at any time.

LaunchVic

LaunchVic60 is a Victorian Government initiative to invest in the infrastructure and the ecosystem to support start-ups and entrepreneurs. LaunchVic works in partnership with entrepreneurs, industry, business, the community and educational institutions. The focus is to invest in the infrastructure of Victoria’s start up ecosystem to increase scale (more people, firms and entrepreneurial activity and improve capability (better, more capable start-ups and entrepreneurs).

LaunchVic provides funding grants to build the start-up ecosystem’s infrastructure including a network of incubators and accelerators to help transform great ideas into viable start-ups. The round one funding program opened for applications on 11 April 2016. This funding round is comprised of two components focussed on small ideas and large ideas.

The small ideas component is a single stage application process for projects of up to $100,000 that build start-up infrastructure in areas that are currently underdeveloped such as regional areas. The large ideas component will focus on collaboration between different organisations including start-ups, investors, universities, multinational enterprises, large and small firms. This will be two stage process.

Grow Your Business

Grow Your Business61 is a program designed to help small businesses develop and implement strategies to become internationally competitive. A range of planning and management services are offered.

With funding up to $11,500 businesses can engage the services of an independent specialist to undertake either one-on-one or group programs. Businesses can apply to one or more of the following program streams:

Business development plan

Business strategic review

Business development plan - mentoring

Group program

Network program

Small Business Mentoring Program

The Small Business Mentoring Program62 matches experienced mentors with SME to help them succeed. Mentors can help SMEs refine their business strategy, map out the direction they should be taking and assist in setting goals for the business to succeed.

Access Program

The Access Program63 provides assistance for Victorian businesses planning to establish new export markets in key countries and regions. It is an ongoing program supported through Business Victoria

60 http://www.launchvic.org 61 http://www.business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/grants-and-assistance/grow-your-business 62 http://www.business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/grants-and-assistance/small-business-mentoring-program 63 http://www.business.vic.gov.au/support-for-your-business/grants-and-assistance/access-program


which offers facilities, export-related assistance and in-country expertise to Victorian company representatives visiting overseas markets.

Remote Work and Telecommuting

The State Government commissioned an enquiry into the impact of telecommuting, with the report released on February 2014: Final Report: Inquiry into the Opportunities for People to Use Telecommuting and eBusiness to Work Remotely in Rural and Regional Victoria64.

The opening report commentary emphasised teleworking opportunities for regional and rural Victoria:

The Committee is in agreement that we would like to see remote working accepted by employers; rural and regional Victorians having access to affordable and reliable high-speed broadband; and a rural and regional workforce possessing the skills necessary to succeed in the digital economy.

To this end we need clear policy direction particularly with regard to employer responsibilities; more information on the quantifiable benefits of telecommuting including productivity and infrastructure savings; government leading by example in promoting telecommuting; access to technology via hubs or smart work centres outside Metropolitan Melbourne; better use of existing infrastructure; and better data on the benefits of the National Broadband Network.65

Numerous examples and cases studies were included in the report with significant commentary in relation to the prospect of the NBN rollout. For example the CEO of Warnnambool City Council and Chair of the Regional Development Association of Barwon South West, Mr Bruce Anson observed that:

Modern agricultural business practices also involve uploading large amounts of traceability data, information on provenance and data-heavy marketing material66.

He also argued that the agriculture sector in rural and regional Victoria will only remain competitive on the world markets when it fully embraces smart technology, including farming methods and logistics.

One view of remote work and telecommuting is for employees of metropolitan organisations being capable of living in a regional or rural location and working remotely. Within the GSC region, town centres provide a significant base for regional employment. As high-speed broadband availability expands and upload speeds increase via fixed wireless, long-term satellite services and fixed line services it will be increasingly viable for local companies and organisations to employ rural, regional or metropolitan based personnel on a remote or telecommuting basis, thus expanding access to diversified talent and expertise.

Changed practice can already be observed in the medical profession where metropolitan based specialists have far greater access to regional and rural hospitals and allied health facilities through the use of broadband based telehealth systems which include videoconferencing and telemetry.

Investment and Business Attraction

Access to high-speed broadband and telecommunications infrastructure will enhance regional investment and business attraction outcomes and assist in diversifying the region’s economic base. The NBN will encourage innovative and smart business practices and facilitate growth of strategic industry sectors such as tourism, agriculture, the services sector and small and home based business.

Economic strategies of councils in regional and rural areas have traditionally aimed at attracting businesses offering lower operational costs, lifestyle and financial incentives. Metropolitan areas could often outcompete regional areas by better satisfying transport and logistics requirements, a relevantly skilled workforce, facilities related to entertainment, health and education.

64 http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/file_uploads/ITEB_Final_Report_5Bb5YMMb.pdf 65 op. cit. p xiii 66 Ibid p 144


New broadband and communications technologies will support distributed, flexible and modular opportunities to attract and relocate activities of government departments or for business units and enterprises. Connectivity between regional and metropolitan business areas will allow for more or less seamless communications and interactivity, through services such as unified voice over internet protocols (VOIP), videoconferencing facilities, virtual private networks, file and applications sharing.

Reflections linked to the policy context

NBN Delivery Approach

The GSC region is an early beneficiary of NBN services across the fibre, fixed wireless and the new NBN Sky Muster satellite service. Combined, these broadband services are revolutionising connectivity for regional and remote Australians.

Common benefits being secured regardless of the type of NBN technology include:

Comprehensive service reach across the GSC region.

Significant improvements in broadband and telecommunications services over current ADSL infrastructure.

Increased number and range of RSPs resulting in increased competition and broader product choice for businesses and residents.

In and around the GSC region many households and businesses are now able to receive the benefits of the NBN with download speeds ranging from 12 Mbps up to 50 Mbps and upload speeds from 1 Mbps up to 20 Mbps.

Previous dial up, ADSL, ADSL 2+ and 3G speeds are being eclipsed. Households and businesses are also benefitting from a larger choice of internet service providers and broadband plans.

National Advocacy Groups

Certain technical issues related to the rollout of the NBN such as the medium to long-term capability of FTTN continue to be the subject of ongoing commentary and media attention. For GSC councils any concerns in this regard should be channelled through technical and advocacy bodies such as the Communications Alliance67 and Internet Australia68.

Points of Interconnect

NBN Co Limited infrastructure will cover 100 percent of GSC region through a combination of technologies.

Some commentary has referenced the lack of a Point of Interconnect (POI) in Warrnambool with the GSC region to be serviced from Geelong and Horsham. The POI issue is largely one of logistics for Retail Service Providers who will need to choose the relevant POI to connect services (such as Internet bandwidth).

The NBN network is primarily a consumer network. Its value is in allowing government, health and large business to have more ubiquitous, reliable access to SMEs and communities.

Specialist ICT facilities such as datacentres and cloud services will not be limited from establishing in the GSC. Their optical fibre requirements would be sourced from major communications providers perhaps in combination with VicTrack (VicFibreLINKS).

67 http://www.commsalliance.com.au 68 https://www.internet.org.au


Wi-Fi Hotspots

Increasingly, regional and rural towns are being serviced by free and other Wi-Fi hotspots. In Victoria, the State Government has sponsored the trial of large Wi-Fi hotspot coverage in Bendigo and Ballarat. The Wi-Fi project is funded for five years with a one-off $6.7 million (ex GST) grant provided to iiNet to build, manage and maintain the network with the following stated aims:

The Victorian Government has launched a pilot of free public Wi-Fi in central Ballarat and central Bendigo, aimed at developing tourism, education, social inclusion, encouraging new business models, and creating a consistent Wi-Fi experience for residents and visitors.

Increasingly, retail businesses, shopping malls, restaurants and cafes in central locations, high traffic and population dense areas are providing Wi-Fi hotspot access to attract clientele. In addition to the increasingly compelling business case for these services in relation to business, retail and tourism, free Wi-Fi hot spots are of increasing relevance to social and welfare support, providing in some cases a much needed means of communicating with homeless and disenfranchised community members.

Companies such as Telstra provide Wi-Fi hotspot services mainly from public telephone booths however services are restricted to eligible mobile and broadband customers.

Given the increased significance of Wi-Fi hotspot infrastructure for business, retail and tourism centres and given the social impact benefits of free access, it is suggested that each LGA explore the feasibility of Wi-Fi hotspot implementation in selected areas via commercial or other avenues.

Advocacy for Mobile Blackspots

There is continuing evidence of significant mobile blackspots in the GSC Region (refer to Appendix 5) and ongoing advocacy will be required to ensure these are addressed to enhance regional business and industry efficiencies and outcomes in sectors including agriculture and tourism, and also address community safety issues.

The Australian Government's $100 million Mobile Black Spot Programme will deliver almost 500 new or upgraded mobile base stations around Australia. The first base stations funded under the Programme were rolled out towards the end of 2015 and the rollout will continue for a three year period. The rollout sequence will be determined by Telstra and Vodafone based on various factors including obtaining local government planning approvals69.

Five state governments (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania) have agreed to partner with the Australian Government to co-fund base stations in their jurisdictions. A number of local governments, businesses and community organisations have also agreed to co-funding arrangements with the successful applicants.

Black spot locations which have not received coverage under earlier funding rounds will continue to form part of the database, and this database will again be used in the process of determining locations to receive funding under the Mobile Black Spot Programme.

The Telstra Air services has also been deployed with 4G small cell sites in up to 200 towns around Australia70.

Maximising Broadband Benefit

NBN and Retail Service Provider Liaison

During the NBN construction phase community concerns may emerge in relation to some aspects of the build. NBN Co Limited has established comprehensive practices to deal with remediation issues relating to construction works for fixed lines infrastructure.

69 Mobile Black Spot Programme – Funded Base Stations 70 Mobile Black Spot Programme


Based on experience in other regions, we recommend that GSC councils establish and maintain ongoing engagement with NBN Co Limited community relations management to proactively deal with any construction issues. This will assist in managing expectations, reducing negative media coverage and maximising the quality and consistency of works being carried out.

It will also be important to keep telecommunications, broadband, and retail service providers servicing the GSC region focussed on the dynamics and growing needs and requirements of the relevant communities and businesses.

Further forums similar to the one held in Warrnambool during March 2016 would provide an effective mechanism for updating regional businesses and communities. Being proactive in this area will ensure SMEs become aware of new service offerings and products available as a result of rollout of high-speed broadband. It will also provide an opportunity for retail services providers to profile their businesses and services and the utility and benefits they will bring to businesses and residents.

Supporting Business and Community Awareness

In areas where the NBN rollout has been completed some residents will not be aware that new broadband services are available. The most reliable way to check the availability of services for a specific geographical location is through NBN Co Limited’s website71.

Letterbox drops and pamphlet distribution are common communication approaches in areas were NBN activations are occurring across fixed wireless and fibre services. Telecommunications providers also directly inform their customers in many cases.

NBN Co Limited actively works with local Councils to ensure they are adequately informed of the activation or ‘Ready for Service’ (RFS) schedule. NBN media coverage and publicity through council communications can assist in generating broad awareness that NBN services are available.

Local government, health and home and community service workers can play an important role in assisting to raise awareness of the activation of NBN by assisting clients in checking service availability via the NBN website and by educating clients about the new services that can be enabled once they are connected.

Occasionally other issues impact the accuracy of the NBN coverage map information (e.g. for mixed residential/commercial, sub-divided or multiple units). NBN Co Limited is responsive and proactive in investigating issues of this nature as they arise.

Supporting NBN Uptake

The GSC Councils are set to play a critical role in shaping the Victorian economy in the future. Extended availability of high-speed broadband is essential infrastructure that will support the region in fostering development and growth opportunities with a competitive and innovative economy driven by agriculture, tourism, health, education, services and manufacturing related activities.

GSC Councils have an opportunity to:

Encourage the early take-up and utilisation of high-speed broadband across business and the community.

Integrate initiatives and opportunities made available by the NBN and other broadband and telecommunications projects into local economic and social strategies.

Work collaboratively and proactively with NBN Co Limited to ensure that planning civil engineering issues are mapped out and addressed both in the short and longer terms in relation to any upgrades or changes in technologies.

71 http://www.nbnco.com.au


Set up communications and mediation structures to deal with any disruptions and remediation required in relation to construction works and build on the lessons from early rollout areas such as Ballarat72.

Take-up rates of NBN services will be an important factor in ensuring that the GSC region is able to leverage the benefits of faster, more ubiquitous and reliable broadband and telecommunications services. From a council perspective, this will provide for enhanced opportunities in terms of engaging with ratepayers and stakeholders and opportunities to drive efficiencies and increased access to information and assistance.

In the initial stages of the activation of NBN services it is likely that some residents and businesses will seek information and advice. Whilst NBN Co Limited and the RSPs lead this process, a proactive approach from Councils to promoting availability, take-up and use will assist in generating regional momentum around the opportunities and innovation that will be facilitated via high-speed broadband adoption.

Councils will be regularly informed and updated by NBN Co Limited with regard to the activation of local services. Not all residents and businesses will have the same level of awareness. Targeted communications and education initiatives will enhance and accelerate the take up of new broadband services. Examples could include:

Working collaboratively with NBN Co Limited to ensure that media releases and information packs are disseminated to local media, business and community networks.

Engaging with businesses and community groups to disseminate information and materials to their members and stakeholders.

Liaising with established and new retail services to ensure awareness of how they are promoting new services.

Partnering in running information sessions and briefings with NBN Co Limited and/or RSPs to generate interest and awareness of the new services soon to be available.

The GSC region’s NBN coverage footprint via fixed wireless, the now launched long-term Sky Muster Satellite and via FTTN and FTTP services is quite extensive. There is an opportunity for GSC Councils to actively engage residents through face-to-face, survey and other means to understand NBN take-up, usage and benefits. The ‘Broadband Watch’ initiative, first recommended as part of the 2011 GSC ICT Strategy73, would gather evidence of the economic, environmental and social impacts of high-speed broadband.

There is also an opportunity to initiate innovation programs which are focused on the effective use of high-speed broadband and to begin targeting the delivery of council services in new ways through both short and longer projects. An annual report card could then be produced to promote regional innovation and technology adoption and outcomes.

Local Government as Exemplars in Online Service Delivery

GSC Councils have an opportunity to recognise the effective use of information communications technology (ICT) as a core part of future engagement and service delivery directions. This is consistent with the Federal Government’s Innovation Statement which identifies that government at all levels can lead by embracing innovation and agility in the way they do business74.

There are now many examples where local governments are providing comprehensive 24 hour, 7 days a week services online, ranging from pet registration and renewals75 to online planning

72 http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/3824879/nbn-defect-payments-still-flowing/ 73 p46 74 http://www.innovation.gov.au/page/agenda 75 City of Melbourne online pet registration https://eservices.melbourne.vic.gov.au/ePathway/Production/Web/Animals/AnimalClasses.aspx?js=-1012580444


applications76. Progressive planning and implementation of online services will also allow councils to become exemplars for business and community organisations in relation to exploring new and innovative ways in which they operate. There are also opportunities for councils in relation to home and community care services, emergency communications and information.

Access to online services will not be restricted. Increasingly, a significant number of State and Federal Government services and information repositories are only available online. Increased uptake of better broadband and telecommunications services will mean more viable access for residents and businesses, especially those in rural and regional areas outside of major town centres.

Open Data

Ballarat, Geelong and Melbourne have been involved in hosting local sites for the national GovHack77 competition for some years.

The GovHack competition originated in Canberra with the purpose of making Government datasets available to creative teams (mostly but not exclusively programmers and code cutters) and giving them 48 hours to create applications that make good use of the data for the benefit of the relevant government departments or for the public.

Datasets are published through State and Federal Government online data repositories and made available for the competition. In the case of Victoria, the councils of Ballarat, Geelong and Melbourne, in addition to a number of State Government Departments, contributed a significant number of datasets. These datasets are held in http://data.gov.au and http://data.vic.gov.au.

Victoria’s three participating regions had success, both with teams winning local and national prizes and in attracting interest from various Government entities in exploring further development of the applications submitted for the competition.

More significantly, the councils involved have through these processes started to leverage the datasets that they are custodians for and have developed policies around getting better returns both for Council and their ratepayers and stakeholders.

Governments at all levels are discovering the value of exposing their datasets to programmers, companies and analytics groups. Competitions such as GovHack also encourage local technical and programming specialists to interact with data custodians including local Government. Participants also have the opportunity to see what can be done when locally maintained datasets are combined with State and National datasets for decision useful purposes.

Steps which could assist GSC Councils in getting involved could include:

Reviewing data policies to ensure support for open data practices. Establishing a registry for all data sets for which Council is a custodian. Leveraging State and Federal online infrastructure to publish and make datasets available for

discovery and reuse. Identifying initiatives where local data can be combined with other data to provide decision useful

information for council officers, residents and other stakeholders. Raising awareness and educating staff so new sources of decision useful data can be generated

through existing of future activities and operations. Exploring regional participation in GovHack across local government, major industries, ICT

professionals and with education providers including universities, colleges and schools with ‘hackathons’ based on local, state and national datasets.

76 City of Cockburn (WA) Online Planning Application Process http://www.cockburn.wa.gov.au/Planning_Online/ 77 GovHack https://www.govhack.org/ Accessed 9 May 2016


This is an example of where GSC Councils can act as an exemplar in adopting new data sharing approaches which have the potential promote regional innovation and more effective use of digital opportunities.

GSC Digital Champions

Establish the GSC Digital Champions group with major sector and technology leaders engaged to provide leadership and oversight for the GSC Digital Strategy implementation.

The GSC Digital Champions will coordinate initiatives focused on building business and community digital literacy and capacity. They will also oversee the implementation of ICT initiatives that attract funding and other support from Federal and State Government initiatives.

The City of Warrnambool has identified in the 2015-2020 Economic Development and Investment Strategy the goal to “Form a working group of business and industry ‘champions’ of digital technology to promote the capabilities and benefits of high-speed broadband.”

Suggested actions for such a group would include.

Reviewing and leveraging of National Innovation and Science Strategy.

Reviewing and actioning of relevant cybersecurity education and implementation processes for business and community.

Developing round table or forum engagement initiatives for businesses and the community.

Advocating for funding for digital priority projects through the State Government Future Industries fund.

Enhancing the regional focus on digital through the integration with established networks and groups across sectors including:

Agriculture, food and fibre

Chambers of Commerce or other business groups

Community and emergency sector

Education

Transport

Videoconferencing

NBN coverage provides much greater capacity for videoconferencing, for example to support medical professionals in interacting with patients in their homes. Videoconferencing technology is a leading use of telehealth for remote and assistive consultations with Medicare Benefits Schedule items claimable by medical practitioners78.

The Western Victoria Primary Health Network works with Barwon South West Telehealth to deliver Telehealth capability to local health services, private specialists, private allied health professionals and general practices in our region, using Healthdirect's Video Call79 . South West Healthcare also provides clinicians with a 24/7 videoconferencing facility80.

Costs and the complexity associated with teleconferencing have reduced significantly. PC or cloud based videoconferencing systems may provide new service options for GSC Councils in areas such as maternal and child health services particularly for residents who live some distance from the major service and community centres. Other areas for videoconferencing service may include planning

78 “MBS and Teleheaalth” - https://www.humanservices.gov.au/health-professionals/services/medicare/mbs-and-telehealth 79 http://westvicphn.com.au/health-professionals/ehealth/telehealth 80 https://webvc.swarh.vic.gov.au/#/login


enquiries and interviews, individual or small group community consultations and home and community care contact.

Business Hubs and Co-working Spaces

The nature and structure of the workforce is changing rapidly. Teleworking and telecommuting are fast becoming a reality for more workplaces (including State Government). There would be benefit in exploring opportunities for establishing business hubs or co-working spaces across the GSC Councils to accommodate increasingly mobile and flexible work cultures. The final report from the Victorian inquiry into telecommuting and eBusiness identified that:

Hubs – also known as ‘shared working spaces’, ‘co-working spaces’ and ‘smart working centres’ – are places that offer rented office space to people, usually freelancers and small start-ups, for set periods of time. The ability to rent space for a small amount of time is one distinguishing factor between hubs and serviced offices and start-up incubators. One other is the concerted effort hubs make to encourage collaboration between their tenants. This produces a ‘cross-pollination’ of ideas facilitating new businesses.

Establishing hubs in rural and regional Victoria is seen as a good way to match the creative environment that occurs naturally in more densely populated metropolitan areas. Ideas for the role of government in establishing hubs in rural and regional Victoria include:

Providing start-up grants

Assisting in business plans

Taking an anchor tenancy in a hub

Locating a hub in existing infrastructure such as libraries

There are many benefits to the Victorian Government supporting feasibility trials of hubs in several rural and regional locations, to identify what sorts of areas are best suited to support their long-term viability.

The GSC region is well placed to explore the establishment or expansion of business hub and co-working spaces in areas such as Warrnambool, Camperdown, Port Fairy, Portland, Terang and Hamilton.

Hubs could service visiting workers and professionals from metropolitan areas, provide professional office accommodation for works from regional and rural areas and provide facilities such as meeting rooms and video conferencing for SMEs so they can better connect and communicate with clients from outside of the region.

Business Hubs and Co-Working spaces come in many different forms with metropolitan based facilities often privately owned and run81. Typically a business hub might provide:

Hot desks

High-speed internet access

One or more meeting rooms

Common areas for discussion and collaboration

High definition videoconferencing facilities

The function of Business Hubs and Co-Working spaces differs from community computer and internet access often supported by public libraries such as that available in Warrnambool, Portland, Casterton and Heywood.

81 https://blog.thefetch.com/coworking-spaces/coworking-in-australia/


Action plan The GSC Digital Strategy Action Plan provides a focus for future actions directed towards maximising regional advantages and opportunities presented by next generation broadband. The action plan brings some recommendations forward from the 2011 study where these remain relevant.

Table 1 Action plan strategies

Strategy Strategic action

Technology pilot projects

Preparing for cloud services Establish a program to support agricultural enterprises, small businesses and community organisations in ensuring their technology infrastructure is reviewed and prepared before cloud services are launched and initiated

Food and Fibre Initiate a comprehensive GSC Smart Agriculture project to generate supply chain efficiencies and position the South West Region to be proactive in meeting new market requirements in areas such as social licence to operate, environmental protection etc. by combining open data, sensor technologies, internet of things, drone and other precision agriculture decision support tools and technologies

Transport Technologies Explore feasibility for a regional transport and logistics project to link-up and aggregate regional transport, freight and logistics capabilities for larger jobs and tenders

New Energy Technologies

Launch a geospatial and knowledge management pilot to present regional investment, jobs, export and other opportunities linked to new energy technology projects proposed or planned across the Great South West region. If successful expand the geospatial and knowledge management approach into other areas of regional competitive advantage including agriculture, tourism and professional services

Future Manufacturing

Establish programs which will expand regional successes in areas including robotics, automation and traceability to ensure regional companies are supported in implementing new manufacturing technologies and processes

Regional Innovation Precincts GSC Councils will identify opportunities for regional innovation and productivity Employment Precincts capable of attracting regional jobs and infrastructure funding

Local Government as an Exemplar

GSC councils will accelerate public sector innovation by embracing new technology opportunities, embrace innovation and through the adoption of more agile technology approaches

GSC councils will provide leadership and facilitate actions linked to securing National Science and innovation Agenda funding with potential areas including:

- Expand regional business incubator facilities


- Foster innovation in agriculture and in regional areas of competitive advantage

- Accelerate data sharing for innovation by accelerating regional open data practices and leveraging infrastructure established to support Data.vic.gov.au and Data.gov.au

- Progressively expand open data focus to semi-government agencies and then to areas of regional industry and community priority (e.g. agriculture, health and tourism)

- Lead regional participation in GovHack and similar innovation initiatives

As regional economic and social strategies are renewed GSC Councils will incorporate progressive, stakeholder driven, digital first approaches in areas such as business / investment attraction in recognition of enhanced regional broadband and mobile coverage availability

Expand digital services approaches and as an outcome regional residents and other stakeholders will interact effectively and productively online. Exemplary online service delivery and other collective approaches will be targeted towards enhanced customer services, resident and stakeholder engagement

Regional talent and skills

Find ways to expose people to more profitable ways of doing business by exposing disruptive technologies and opening business leaders eyes to what is possible through a series of regional expos and forums

Partner with regional education providers to develop talent and skills with a focus on developing young people's passion for sciences and innovation

Deliver awareness raising and education programs in areas such as cyber

security and safe online practices

Promote opportunities for small businesses to access cyber security testing grants (2018)

Enhance regional business skills through small business workshops and

mentoring building on learnings and resources established through programs such as the Central Highlands Digital Enterprise Program

Guidance/ leadership Establish the GSC Digital Champions group with major sector and technology leaders engaged to provide leadership and oversight for the GSC Digital Strategy implementation

Work with the GSC Digital Champions group to prioritise project actions and to source funding from State and Federal Government sources.

Advocacy Engage regularly with telecommunications and internet service providers in order to assess and review regional infrastructure strategies and plans

Engage regularly with NBN Co in relation to strategic directions and planning

Invite NBN Co, telecommunications and internet service providers to deliver

roadshows and seminars to educate and inform businesses and communities about the availability of next generation technologies and services

Advocate for enhanced mobile services to address service blackspots and unmet demand for next generation broadband services


Facilities/ infrastructure

In conjunction with the GSC Digital Champions Group, assess the feasibility of establishing regional innovation hubs (co-labs, business hubs, shared services including video conferencing etc)

Explore opportunities for regional Wi-Fi hotspot coverage in the major population centres of the GSC local government areas

Engage with VicTrack to maximise availability and utility of the VicFibrelinks

fibre optic infrastructure in the GSC region Continue to advocate to reduce mobile blackspots to enhance regional

productivity and safety and visitor experiences

National Broadband Network

Maintain NBN Co communications, mediation and liaison across each GSC LGA by actively engaging with regard to the rollout of NBN infrastructure and installations.

Collaboration models Assess the Victorian Government’s Final Report: Inquiry into the Opportunities for People to Use Telecommuting and E-Business to Work Remotely in Rural and Regional Victoria 2014

Where feasible, support GSC councils in developing internal teleworking and telecommuting strategies

Develop regional teleworking and telecommuting opportunities with emphasis

on: 1. engagement and employment of residents in rural and regional areas 2. broadening the base of expertise and talent (from outside of the GSC

region) available to businesses and organisations 3. Attracting parts of businesses and government departments as a part

of business and investment attraction strategies.

Local talents/ skills Capture and share best practices of broadband use, ideally by using an online repository

Promote and showcase regional ICT successes Support regional businesses in preparing and participating in state and

national awards such as the Australian Information Industry Association iAwards and the Australian Community ICT Awards.

Research and development

Establish research partnerships so regional priorities for applied research can be confirmed and joint pursuit of funding can be advanced

Establish a ‘Broadband Watch’ survey to continue to gather evidence of unmet demand and beneficial social and economic impacts of ICT and broadband diffusion

Build reliable evidence and comparable indicators through future community

and business surveys in areas such as ICT access, use and impact Partner with research organisations and other stakeholders in attracting

private and public sector funding for ICT and broadband research and development

Produce an annual report card on local ICT activities, achievements and

priorities that details projects that have been given priority, informs of their progress and highlights areas that need further attention and consideration


Appendix 1

Great South Coast Digital Strategy survey

The Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation (CeRDI) at Federation University Australia, together with Lateral Plains, have been funded by Regional Development Australia Barwon South West Committee to conduct research to gauge the level of technology adoption by businesses across the Great South Coast region.

The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and the information you share will provide important insights that will be used to inform the Great South Coast Digital Strategy. The findings from this research may also be used to prepare academic journal articles and conference papers to inform national and international knowledge about digital strategies.

For further details about this research please contact Dr Helen Thompson on (03) 5327 9418 or via [email protected].

This research received approval from Federation University Australia’s Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number: A15-142).

Your business

Please provide some information about your business so your responses can be grouped with those from similar businesses.

Which local government area is your business primarily located in?

☐ Colac Otway Shire Council ☐ Corangamite Shire Council ☐ Glenelg Shire Council ☐ Moyne Shire Council ☐ Southern Grampians Shire Council ☐ Warrnambool City Council ☐ Other: __________________

Which suburb is your business located in?

_________________________________________________________________________________

What sector does your business primarily operate in?

☐ Agriculture, forestry and fishing ☐ Mining ☐ Manufacturing ☐ Electricity, gas, water and waste services ☐ Construction ☐ Wholesale trade ☐ Retail trade ☐ Accommodation and food services ☐ Transport, postal and warehousing ☐ Information media and telecommunications ☐ Financial and insurance services ☐ Rental, hiring and real estate services ☐ Professional, scientific and technical services ☐ Administrative and support services ☐ Public administration and safety ☐ Education and training


☐ Health care and social assistance ☐ Arts and recreation services ☐ Other: __________________

How long has your business been operating?

☐ Less than 1 year ☐ 1-2 years ☐ 3-5 years ☐ 6-10 years ☐ More than 10 years

What is the size of your business?

☐ Self-employed ☐ Micro (1-4 employees) ☐ Small (5-19 employees) ☐ Medium (20-199 employees) ☐ Large (200+ employees) ☐ Not-for-profit

Which markets does your business service?

☐ Local ☐ Victorian ☐ National ☐ International

Digital technology adoption

Please provide some information about digital technology adoption within your business. Digital technology adoption in the context of this survey relates to the use of internet, mobile and social media platforms used in the day-to-day operations, marketing and procurement activities of your business.

What type of internet connection does your business have?

☐ High-speed broadband ☐ Mobile wireless broadband ☐ Broadband ☐ Dial-up ☐ No connection ☐ Unsure ☐ Other: __________________

Is your current internet connection sufficient for your business needs?

☐ Sufficient for current business needs ☐ Insufficient and currently on the best available connection ☐ Insufficient and planning to upgrade in the next year ☐ Insufficient and have no plans to upgrade in the next year ☐ Other: __________________

If your internet connection is insufficient, please explain why.

_________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________

Which of the following technologies does your business use?

☐ PCs ☐ Laptops ☐ Smartphones ☐ Tablets (i.e. iPad or Galaxy Tab)

Which of the following digital technologies has your business adopted?

☐ Website ☐ Email address ☐ Internal email communication ☐ Email marketing/eNewsletters ☐ Social media profiles ☐ Social media marketing ☐ Paid internet advertisements ☐ Web analytics (i.e. Google Analytics)


☐ Search engine optimisation (SEO) ☐ Customer relationship management (CRM) system ☐ eCommerce (online sales and payments) ☐ Online sourcing, purchasing, procurement and distribution ☐ Online business research ☐ Working online and collaborating with other businesses ☐ Use of cloud services (i.e. Dropbox or Google Drive) ☐ None of these digital technologies ☐ Unsure ☐ Other: __________________

How important are digital technologies to your business?

Unsure

Very unimportant

(1) Unimportant

(2)

Neither important or unimportant

(3) Important

(4)

Very important

(5)

☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

How would you rate your organisation's level of digital technology adoption?

Unsure

Very low

(1) Low (2)

Average (3)

High (4)

Very high (5)

☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Does your business have a digital strategy?

☐ Documented digital strategy ☐ Undocumented digital strategy ☐ Planning to create a digital strategy in the next year ☐ No digital strategy required ☐ Unsure ☐ Other: __________________

How often is new content added to your website?

Unsure

Very rarely

(1) Rarely

(2) Occasionally

(3) Frequently

(4)

Very frequently

(5)

☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Is your website optimised for viewing on a mobile device (i.e. responsive or scalable content for viewing on a smartphone or tablet)?

☐ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unsure

What methods does your business use to accept orders from customers?

☐ In-store ☐ Phone ☐ Fax ☐ Email ☐ Online ☐ Other: __________________

Does your business have a profile on any of the following social media channels?

☐ Facebook ☐ Twitter ☐ Instagram ☐ Pinterest ☐ LinkedIn ☐ Other: __________________


How often does your business add new content to social media?

Unsure

Very rarely

(1) Rarely

(2) Occasionally

(3) Frequently

(4)

Very frequently

(5)

☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

How has the adoption of digital technologies benefited your business?

☐ Increased exposure ☐ Increased responsiveness to customers ☐ Expanded customer base ☐ Better advertising through the use of data analytics ☐ Comprehensive customer data through the use of management software ☐ Increased innovation ☐ Improved competitiveness ☐ Increased productivity and efficiency ☐ Remote working ☐ Increased revenue ☐ Business growth ☐ No benefits received ☐ Unsure ☐ Other: __________________

What level of technology skills do employees in your business have?

☐ Advanced technology skills ☐ Intermediate technology skills ☐ Beginner technology skills

What strategies does your business use to stay up-to-date with changes in digital technologies for business?

_________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________

The future

How important do you believe digital technologies will be to the future growth and competitiveness of your business?

Very unimportant (1)

Unimportant(2)

Neither Important or Unimportant(3)

Important (4)

Very important (5)

☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

What are the barriers to increasing the adoption of digital technologies in your business in the next year?

☐ Cost of implementation ☐ Lack of resource to implement ☐ Insufficient internet connection ☐ Lack of customer demand or readiness


☐ Lack of understanding of digital technologies ☐ Lack of technology expertise in the business ☐ Online security concerns ☐ No strong business case ☐ No barriers ☐ Other: __________________

How do you see your business’ use of digital technologies changing in the future?

_________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________

What strategies would you suggest be implemented in the Great South Coast region to improve digital technology adoption within businesses?

_________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________

Please provide any other comments about the adoption of digital technologies in your business:

_________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for completing this survey.

For further details about this research please contact one of the following researchers:

Dr Helen Thompson Phone: 5327 9418 Email: [email protected]

George Fong Email: [email protected]

Alison Ollerenshaw Email: [email protected]

Jennifer Corbett Email: [email protected]


Appendix 2

Great South Coast Digital Strategy survey results

The following results contain responses up to 11 January 2016.

0

0

19

0

10

0

4

0

No answer

Other


Southern Grampians Shire Council

Moyne Shire Council

Glenelg Shire Council

Corangamite Shire Council

Colac Otway Shire Council

Which local government area is your business primarily located in? (n=33)


0

5

0

3

3

0

0

2

0

2

1

0

4

7

1

3

1

0

0

1

No answer

Other

Arts and recreation services

Health care and social assistance

Education and training

Public administration and safety

Administrative and support services

Professional, scientific and technical services

Rental, hiring and real estate services

Financial and insurance services

Information media and telecommunications

Transport, postal and warehousing

Accommodation and food services

Retail trade

Wholesale trade

Construction

Electricity, gas, water and waste services

Manufacturing

Mining

Agriculture, forestry and fishing

What sector does your business primarily operate in? (n=33)

0

17

6

6

2

2

No answer

More than 10 years

6‐10 years

3‐5 years

1‐2 years

Less than 1 year

How long has your business been operating? (n=33)


0

2

2

5

7

11

6

No answer

Not‐for‐profit

Large (200+ employees)

Medium (20‐199 employees)

Small (5‐19 employees)

Micro (1‐4 employees)

Self‐employed

What is the size of your business? (n=33)

0

6

10

20

23

No answer

International

National

Victorian

Local

Which markets does your business service? (n=33)

2

0

0

0

0

16

10

11

No answer

Other

Unsure

No connection

Dial‐up

Broadband

Mobile wireless broadband

High‐speed broadband

What type of internet connection does your business have? (n=33)


2

0

0

2

3

26

No answer

Other

Insufficient and have no plans to upgrade in thenext year

Insufficient and planning to upgrade in the nextyear

Insufficient and currently on the best availableconnection

Sufficient for current business needs

Is your current internet connection sufficient for your business needs? (n=33)

2

23

24

25

26

No answer

Tablets

PCs

Laptops

Smartphones

Which of the following technologies does your business use? (n=33)


Left % = No answer + Unsure + Very unimportant (1) + Unimportant (2) Center % = Neither important or unimportant (3) Right % = Important (2) + Very important (1)

2

1

0

0

9

9

10

11

12

13

15

16

17

18

18

19

21

26

30

No answer

Other

Unsure

None of these digital technologies

Web analytics (i.e. Google Analytics)

Customer relationship management (CRM)system

eCommerce (online sales and payments)

Paid internet advertisements

Search engine optimisation (SEO)

Working online and collaborating with otherbusinesses

Online sourcing, purchasing, procurement anddistribution

Email marketing/eNewsletters

Online business research

Use of cloud services (i.e. Dropbox or GoogleDrive)

Social media marketing

Internal email communication

Social media profiles

Website

Email address

Which of the following digital technologies has your business adopted? (n=33)

88%3%9%

How important are digital technologies to your business? (n=33)


Left % = No answer + Unsure + Very low (1) + Low (2) Center % = Average Right % = High (2) + Very high (1)

Left % = No answer + Unsure + Very rarely (1) + Rarely (2) Center % = Occasionally Right % = Frequently (2) + Very frequently (1)

66%16%19%

How would you rate your organisation's level of digital technology adoption? (n=33)

3

2

0

5

6

8

9

No answer

Other

Unsure

No digital strategy required

Documented digital strategy

Planning to create a digital strategy in the nextyear

Undocumented digital strategy

Does your business have a digital strategy? (n=33)

44%25% 31%

How often is new content added to your website? (n=33)

4

3

9

17

No answer

Unsure

No

Yes

Is your website optimised for viewing on a mobile? (n=33)


Left % = No answer + Unsure + Very rarely (1) + Rarely (2) Center % = Occasionally Right % = Frequently (2) + Very frequently (1)

5

2

9

16

18

24

24

No answer

Other

Fax

Online

In‐store

Phone

Email

What methods does your business use to accept orders from customers? (n=33)

8

2

1

8

8

9

22

No answer

Other

Pinterest

Twitter

Instagram

LinkedIn

Facebook

Does your business have a profile on any of the following social media channels? (n=33)

50%13%38%

How often does your business add new content to social media? (n=33)


4

2

1

2

7

9

8

9

11

14

15

15

16

19

19

No answer

Other

Unsure

No benefits received

Comprehensive customer data through the use ofmanagement software

Increased revenue

Increased innovation

Better advertising through the use of dataanalytics

Increased productivity and efficiency

Improved competitiveness

Remote working

Business growth

Increased responsiveness to customers

Increased exposure

Expanded customer base

How has the adoption of digital technologies benefited your business? (n=33)

4

5

21

8

No answer

Beginner technology skills

Intermediate technology skills

Advanced technology skills

What level of technology skills do employees in your business have? (n=33)


Left % = No answer + Very unimportant (1) + Unimportant (2) Center % = Neither important or unimportant (3) Right % = Important (2) + Very important (1)

50%13%38%

How important do you believe digital technologies will be to the future growth and competitiveness of your business? (n=33)

6

0

4

0

2

5

6

6

7

10

13

No answer

Other

No barriers

Online security concerns

No strong business case

Lack of resource to implement

Lack of understanding of digital technologies

Insufficient internet connection

Lack of customer demand or readiness

Lack of technology expertise in the business

Cost of implementation

What are the barriers to increasing the adoption of digital technologies in your business in the next year? (n=33)


Appendix 3

Great South Coast Digital Strategy interview schedule

What digital technologies is your business using and how are they being used?

What successes has your business experienced through the use of digital technologies?

What strategies has your business implemented to achieve these successes?

What barriers has your business encountered through the use of digital technologies and how were they overcome?

In the future how do you see your businesses use of digital technologies changing?

What strategies would you suggest be implemented in the Great South Coast region to improve digital technology adoption within businesses?

Are there any other comments you would l like to make about digital technology adoption in the region?


Appendix 4

Great South Coast Digital Strategy LGA representatives interview schedule

What digital technologies are being adopted in your organisation?

Are there any formal strategies that are guiding Council’s digital strategy or technology directions? (If yes, request copies of related documents)

Are there opportunities for technology pilots within Council locally or regionally that should be prioritised as part of the Great South Coast Digital Strategy?

What are the priority economic sectors/ area of competitive advantage for your LGA?

Which areas/ sectors have the greatest opportunity to contribute to regional economic growth?

What digital technologies are businesses in your LGA adopting?

Can you share some specific examples of how businesses in your LGA are engaging with digital technologies?

What barriers to digital technology adoption is your LGA facing and how are they being overcome?

What strategies have been implemented in your LGA to facilitate increased adoption of digital technologies in businesses?

What strategies would you suggest be implemented in your LGA to improve digital technology adoption for businesses?

How do you see businesses in your LGA using digital technologies in the future?

What exemplar businesses in your LGA are contributing to the growth of the regional economy or have the potential to?

Are there opportunities for technology pilots within your LGA or regionally that should be identified/ prioritised as part of the Great South Coast Digital Strategy?

Can you share any ideas you have around the technology pilots or digital innovation projects which should form part of the Great South Coast Digital Strategy?


Appendix 5

Mobile Black Spot Database

Since December 2013, the Department of Communications received information about mobile coverage black spots from individuals, organisations, community groups, local, state and territory governments and Federal Members of Parliament82.

The following base stations in the Great South Coast region have received funding from Round 1 of the Mobile Black Spot Programme. Specific location coordinates are available at: http://data.gov.au/dataset/ mobile-black-spot-programme-funded-base-stations/resource/797a7c1b-cf1e-452d-8a92-194c2ed5708a

Colac Otway Shire

Apollo Bay Barongarook Barwon Downs Cape Otway Carlisle River Gellibrand Kawarren Yeodene

Glenelg Shire

Cape Bridgewater Digby Portland West

Southern Grampians Shire

Culla Mirranatwa Muntham Nareen Pigeon Ponds Victoria Valley

The following locations have been identified as having a black spot in the Great South Coast region. Specific location coordinates are available at: https://data.gov.au/dataset/community-reports-of-poor-or-no-mobile-coverage/resource/c6b211ad-3aa2-4f53-8427-01b52a6433a7?inner_span=True

Colac Otway Shire

Aire Valley Alvie Apollo Bay Balintore Barham River Road Barongarook Barongarook West Barramunga Barunah Plains Barwon Downs Beeac Beech Forest Birregurra Bungador Busty Road Cape Otway Carlisle River Chapple Vale Cororooke Corunnun Cundare Cundare North Dreeite Dreeite South Elliminyt Eurack Ferguson Forrest Gellibrand Gellibrand River Gerangamete Glenaire Great Ocean Road Great Otway National Park Grey River Horden Vale Irrewarra Irrewillipe Irrewillipe East Johanna Kawarren Kennett River Lavers Hill Mount Sabine Murroon Ondit Pennyroyal Petticoat Creek Separation Creek Skenes Creek Skenes Creek North

82 Community Reports of Poor or No Mobile Coverage


Sugarloaf Swan Marsh Tanybryn Warrion Warrion Hill Weeaproinah Weering Whoorel Wongarra Wool Wool Wye River Wyelangta Yeo Yeodene Yuulong

Corangamite Shire

Berrybank Bookaar Boorcan Brucknell Carpendeit Cobden Cooriemungle Cowleys Creek Curdies River Curdievale Darlington Duverney Ecklin South Elingamite Elingamite North Foxhow Gellibrand Lower Glenfyne Glenormiston North Glenormiston South Heytesbury Lower Jancourt East Kariah Kennedys Creek Kolora Larralea Leslie Manor Lismore Mingay Mount Bute Newfield Nirranda East Noorat Noorat East Pomborneit East Pomborneit North Port Campbell Port Campbell National Park Princetown Scotts Creek Simpson Skipton South Purrumbete Terang Timboon Vite Vite Vite Vite North Wattle Hill Weerite

Glenelg Shire

Bahgallah Bolwarra Breakaway Creek Brimboal Cape Bridgewater Cape Nelson Cashmore Casterton Condah Corndale Dartmoor Digby Drik Drik Drumborg Dunrobin Glenelg River Gorae Gorae West Grassdale Greenwald Heathmere Henty Heywood Homerton Hotspur Killara Lake Condah Lake Mundi Lindsay Lyons Merino Milltown Mount Richmond Mumbannar Myamyn Nangeela Nelson Paschendale Portland Portland West Sandford Strathdownie Tahara Tahara Bridge Tahara West Tyrendarra Wallacedale Wando Bridge Wando Vale Warrock Winnap

Moyne Shire

Ballangeich Bessiebelle Broadwater Caramut Chatsworth Codrington Cudgee Dundonnell Ellerslie Framlingham East Gerrigerrup Grassmere Harry Goods Road Hawkesdale Hexham


Kirkstall Koroit Laang Macarthur Masons Road Mepunga Mepunga East Minhamite Minjah Mortlake Nareeb Naringal East Nirranda South Nullawarre Orford Panmure Peterborough Port Fairy Pura Pura Purnim Purnim West Rosebrook Southern Cross St Helens Tarrone The Cove The Sisters Toolong Wangoom Warrabkook Warrong Willatook Winslow Woolsthorpe Woolsthorpe Heywood Road Woorndoo Yambuk

Southern Grampians Shire

Balmoral Bochara Branxholme Brit Brit Buckley Swamp Bulart Byaduk Byaduk North Carapook Cavendish Cherrypool Clover Flat Clutterbucks Road Coleraine Coojar Croxton East Culla Dunkeld Englefield Gatum Gazette Glenisla Glenthompson Grampians Gringegalgona Gritjurk Hamilton Hensley Park Hilgay Karabeal Konongwootong Melville Forest Mirranatwa Mooralla Morgiana Mount Napier Moutajup Muntham Nareen Penshurst Pigeon Ponds Purdeet Strathkellar Tarrayoukyan Tarrenlea Tarrington Vasey Victoria Point Victoria Valley Victoria Valley Road Wannon Warrayure Woodhouse Wootong Vale Yatchaw Yulecart


Bushfield Flagstaff Hill Woodford

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