Digital Connectivity Principles – Stage Two

Exploring expansion of the DCP scope

NSWTA has commenced the DCP Stage Two roll-out, which involves several work streams including exploring expansion of the DCP scope beyond current NSW government agency infrastructure projects. This includes consideration of whether the DCP should be applied to the future infrastructure projects of state-owned corporations, local government authorities and private entities.

Other workstreams include:

• Enhanced compliance – implementation assurance
• Potential regulation – voluntary, incentivised or regulated compliance
• Data-driven analytical tool – tailored implementation guidance and support
• Evaluation and review - relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability of DCP.

Consultation

NSWTA is undertaking a series of consultation sessions with Local Government Authorities to explore the potential value, risks, barriers and impacts relating to the potential of expanding the DCP remit to include them.

Local Government Authorities are invited to provide a formal, written response to issues identified during the consultation sessions or raised in this consultation paper and provide any further information, insights or advice.

Submissions will be received until 31 January 2025 at: connectivity.standards@customerservice.nsw.gov.au

All enquiries regarding the consultation or the broader application of the DCP should be directed to: Alan Green, A/Principal Policy Officer via alan.green@customerservice.nsw.gov.au. NSWTA will also remain available for follow-up contact and meetings if required.

Next steps

Once submissions have been reviewed, NSWTA will undertake initial analysis and form interim conclusions. There will then be a further opportunity for each Local Government Authority to provide written comment on the issues, including NSWTA’s preliminary conclusions and draft recommendations.

Following this, NSWTA will provide a final report to the Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government outlining its findings and recommendations.

Consultation questions

NSWTA has prepared the following questions and requests for information to assist Local Government Authorities consider the potential opportunities, benefits, risks and impacts to their organisation if the scope of the DCP were extended to include them.

Current digital planning

• Is planning for digital connectivity infrastructure and digital services already embedded in your organisation’s processes for infrastructure project planning, budgeting, design and delivery? If so, how?
• Have you previously had any problems with inadequate digital connectivity in your infrastructure projects?

Potential opportunities

• Please describe the opportunities and benefits that could be realised if your organisation were to adopt the DCP.

Potential challenges

• Please describe any challenges, risks and/or barriers if your organisation were to adopt the DCP.

Implementation

• What resources or additional supports would be useful to support implementation of the DCP if they applied to your organisation?

Infrastructure projects

• Describe the types of infrastructure projects your organisation undertakes including whether they have a digital connectivity component, how frequently they are delivered and the pipeline of projects planned or delivered in the next three years.

Further information

• Please provide any additional information you think would be valuable to inform further considerations.