The City of Gold Coast’s urban planning team was recognized at the recent Australian Planning Institute (Queensland) Planning Excellence Awards for its innovative use of technology and data to support better planning outcomes.
The award, presented in the Technology and Digital Innovation category, recognized the City’s work in the Robina Central Planning Review, which used artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze large amounts of community consultation data.
Mark Hummel, who formally presented the award in full council yesterday alongside Mayor Tom Tate and Council CEO Planning Chair and Deputy Mayor Tim Baker, said the award highlighted how smart technology can improve both the quality and efficiency of city planning processes.
“This project demonstrated how AI and machine learning can be used to support better planning outcomes by analyzing over 1,000 community feedback within five hours, compared to the weeks it previously took,” Cr Hammel said.
“This technology has also provided clearer visuals and stronger demographic insights, enabling better decision-making that will ultimately benefit Robina residents and the city’s Gold Coasters as we work with the community on what the future of Robina will be.”
Mr Hammel said it was important to stress that technology was used to support, not replace, professional planners.
“AI will not replace the work of planners, but augment it. It will enable highly skilled professionals to work more efficiently and focus on what matters most, ultimately delivering better planning results, faster processes, and better value to ratepayers,” he said.
Hummel said this recognition is especially meaningful as the city continues to work toward new planning initiatives.
The City Council is currently preparing a new planning scheme to replace the current City Plan, providing the Council with a roadmap to continue planning and delivering our rapidly growing city over the next 20 years.
“This is exactly the kind of innovation we want when developing new planning schemes for cities, using smart tools to support smart planning rather than shortcuts, and provide certainty for both residents and industry,” Cr Hammel said.
“This recognition reflects our urban planning team’s collaboration, innovation, commitment and focus on planning for a great future for the Gold Coast.
“Towards 2046, the new planning scheme will help us plan for around 400,000 more residents, more than 185,000 additional housing diversity and more than 170,000 jobs across the city.”
