Computerworld

Wellington joins Australian smart city body

Wellington has become the first non-Australian city to join the Australian Smart Communities Association (ASCA), under its recently created international affiliate cities category.

The category is part of ASCA’s expanding global network which already includes three smart city organisations: the German-based Smart City Forum, Swiss-based World Smart City and Dutch-based Global Smart City and Community Coalition.

Welcoming Wellington, ASCA president, Michael Whereat, said: “Wellington has a remarkable program of smart city initiatives and innovations - from smart parking, disaster management and recovery, to city analytics - which will add another valuable layer to the ASCA network.”

Wellington City councillor David Lee, portfolio leader for technology, innovation and enterprise said membership would give Wellington “an opportunity to learn from the experience of other smart communities, as well as to share our own talent and expertise.”

ASCA started as a collaborative coalition of local government, Regional development associations and regional organisations of councils. It now claims to be “the peak industry association in Australia for the rapidly developing digital, sharing and interconnected communities.”

It says its members represent more than 150 local government authorities that collectively represent one in three Australians.