Norwest smart city: Innovation and education key to future growth
PUBLIC high-speed Wi-Fi across the city, driverless shuttles for public transport and interactive environmental controls through mobile apps are part of the futuristic campus workspace masterplan — Norwest Smart City.
Hills Shire
Don't miss out on the headlines from Hills Shire. Followed categories will be added to My News.
INNOVATION, education and futuristic technology is at the heart and soul of plans for the Norwest Smart City masterplan according to Mulpha Norwest general manager Tim Spencer.
And he aims to see the “Internet of Things” play a crucial role in the future of Norwest.
Not only will the project propose the use of public high-speed Wi-Fi across the city, driverless shuttles for public transport and interactive environmental controls through mobile apps — the masterplan also aims to create a futuristic campus workspace and an innovation incubation club to harbour start-up technology companies and education.
CHAPTER ONE: MULPHA’S VISION FOR NORWEST SMART CITY
CHAPTER THREE: BELLA VISTA FARM PARK COULD BE HOME TO OPERA
“Through our own version of an innovation incubation club we aim to foster continued worker upskilling and an entrepreneurial culture,” he said.
“Programs such as mentoring schemes, business placements, and capability programs for individuals as well as small to medium businesses will deliver the knowledge, skills and emotional intelligence for a new redefined future.”
Mr Spencer said Mulpha was working with experts here and overseas to bring this vision to fruition.
Director of strategic and government relations and assistant vice-chancellor at Western Sydney University Dr Andy Mark said it was key that technology, tertiary education and start-up business opportunities were included in the plan.
“Western Sydney University will be bringing launch pad expertise to the Smart City Innovation precinct, with links to researchers and collaboration workshops between industry specialists and start-up businesses,” he said.
“There is a lot of investment in start ups in the Sydney CBD, but it doesn't match the growth of start-up projects in Greater Western Sydney.
“We need to change the State and Federal Government’s mindset that only the CBD can support start-ups, because they are alive a well in the North West.”
Social demographer Mark McCrindle said the masterplan has a vision for higher education and innovation, that could see start-up developers and entrepreneurs live and work in the city.
“We will see higher education and innovation hubs introduced which is something that the Hills lacks,” he said.
“We have excellent schools in the area and now we will see innovative new opportunities to link education to innovation.”
EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON VISION
LEADING social demographer and futurist Mark McCrindle was one of several panellists to weigh in on Mulpha Norwest’s smart city vision on Monday.
Mr McCrindle said the northwest was one of Australia’s leading growth corridors, which has tripled the number of residents in the past 10 years and outmatched the national growth of business numbers by 2.5 per cent in 2016.
“Smart city vision, like the masterplan that Muplha has put forward, is the key to driving greater Sydney to success,” Mr McCrindle said.
“People’s lifestyles and expectations around living have changed, people want the opportunity to work, live, shop and be entertained locally — and that is what Mulpha’s masterplan provides for Norwest Business Park.”
Mr McCrindle said the masterplan not only revitalises Norwest Business Park but provided a framework for how smart cities should be developed across greater Sydney.
“I have seen the masterplan and it is great,’’ Mr McCrindle said.
“It brings residential to the business park which is something that is lacking across the country.
“Business parks commonly empty out in the evenings and are ghost towns on the weekends when residential is not included — this precinct won’t only be a workplace, but a lifestyle location.’’
THE FUTURE OF NORWEST
Mr McCrindle said the masterplan would use transport hubs to bring the community together.
“It revitalises the business experience and creates an educational and innovation precinct that is unparalleled — it will have everything a community needs to grow.”