MAVHACK1 was held in September last year. It was highly successful in introducing a broader council audience to the benefits of design thinking, customer focus and multi-stakeholder collaboration. See the event videos and presentation decks here.
Since the event, MAVHACK teams have been working towards a proof of concept for each of the MAVHACK solutions:
- Disabled Parking Permits – Proof of concept
VicRoads have engaged Ansible (one of the MAVHACK facilitators) to develop a proof of concept (POC) and implementation plan for a new state-wide system for managing disabled parking permit applications and compliance by the end of this year.
Extensive research has been undertaken, including detailed interviews with councils, permit users and medical professionals.
VicRoads and Ansible are engaging with councils through MAV Technology, and have included council and MAV reps on the project steering committee. They are also seeking council participation in several focus groups.
The project will explore the whole process, including the current and future role of councils, GPs and medical professionals, VicRoads and private sector car park providers (such as Westfield and Wesfarmers).
We will communicate the timeline of the project to councils to engage and inform them of the progress of this MAVHACK initiative.
- “Jocelyn” Planning Permits – Proof of concept
Several development meetings have occurred. The Cities of Wyndham, Casey and Ballarat are committed to participating in a proof-of-concept, the scope of which is still being determined.
Land Use Victoria (DELWP), Ansible, Digital Reign (another MAVHACK facilitator) and Telstra are working together to determine how we might share data and develop a chat bot with Artificial Intelligence (Jocelyn) to streamline the process for applying for shed permits in the three participating council areas. The councils are also talking to their local water authorities to gauge interest and capacity for their involvement in the POC.
Funding options for the POC are also being explored, including leveraging of Telstra Innovation Funds that are provided to councils as part of their Telstra contracts, direct investment by the participating councils, investment by the MAV, investment of resources and/or funds by DELWP and Innovation Victoria grant funding.
- “Pop Drop” Waste Management – Proof of concept
Thirty-two councils responded to a survey distributed by the MAV in December. Information collected included the cost of collecting illegally dumped rubbish, the three most commonly dumped items, current recycling initiatives and current and past collection mechanisms.
The MAV received advice from more than 40 councils that they are interested in either participating in or being kept informed of any collaborative activities aimed at addressing this issue.
Next steps are to identify 2 or 3 councils that are very keen to participate in the POC, determine their most commonly dumped items, speak with recycling companies about what amount of that item would need to be collected to make it a viable recycling event, set up the technical support to allow citizens to register their need to dispose of items, and work with councils to promote and run the pop drop event.
The pop drop solution is the least complicated of the MAVHACK solutions. Its development will occur after the “Jocelyn” Planning Permit POC is underway.