Professor David James has been appointed Action Leader. He will initiate a regular process of review to analyse the overall progress made on Ballarat ICT 2030, detail the projects that have been given priority and identify areas that need further attention and consideration. The Report Card will be used when communicating the progress of Ballarat ICT 2030 to stakeholders and the broader community.

Action Leader Paul Mannix is in the process of establishing the Ballarat ICT Infrastructure Advisory Group. This group will pursue partnerships with governments, telecommunications providers and others to ensure Ballarat achieves its strategic requirements for the delivery and maintenance of world's-best infrastructure. It will identify what limits take up and use of ICT and attract public and private investment to support Ballarat in achieving its infrastructure goals. The infrastructure group will also add its support plans such as enhancing broadband accessibility at the University of Ballarat Technology Park and the central Ballarat health precinct.

Initial actions include supporting the City of Ballarat and University of Ballarat Technology Park in attracting funding, preparing a project brief and appointing a consultant to undertake research on Ballarat's Data Centre and Shared Service Infrastructure requirements. This information will form the foundation for a business case to support investment in and ongoing sustainability of a regional data centre and shared services facility.

The Stage 3 Project Team was represented in consultation activities on 11 April 2008 which relate to the City of Ballarat's proposed Broadband Policy. On 17 September 2007 the City of Ballarat resolved to prepare a Local Planning Policy which aims to ensure provision of conduits for optical fibre cabling and to facilitate future installations of advanced telecommunications services as a means to support business and industry in the City, assist economic and employment growth, improve residents' access to information and services, and do so in a manner which respects the City's visual quality.

Attendees identified that additional information would be required from Coomes Consulting Group and the City of Ballarat before informed feedback could be provided on the proposed policy. This included comprehensive information on existing telecommunications services, estimates regarding development costs that would be incurred as a result of installing conduit, and information about the basis upon which telecommunications providers could gain access to the installed conduit.

Future reports will contain further updates on consultation and action associated with new local planning policy for the provision for optical fibre telecommunications services.

Action Leader Helen Thompson, is responsible for providing the Ballarat ICT Limited Board with regular updates on Stage 3 activities which include a program of selective assistance and interventions to foster ongoing development and increase the international participation and involvement of the organisations that comprise the Ballarat ICT Cluster.

Action Leader Helen Thompson is coordinating activities linked to the potential establishment of an eHealth and ICT Cluster as the first speciality focus area around ICT use in industries where Ballarat has a competitive advantage. Future areas of priority may extend to agribusiness, manufacturing, education and tourism.

During 2007 activities were instigated to bring UB researchers, agencies, organisations and individuals together to identify opportunities to collaborate on projects which link health and ICT. Activities to date have included meetings with Multimedia Victoria during November 2007 and February 2008 and eHealth and ICT forums on 29 January 2008 (attended by 32 individuals) and 3 April 2008 (attended by 27). Stakeholder numbers have grown with 69 individuals currently expressing interest in being involved.

Eight-two percent of attendees who provided feedback on their participation in the first forum indicated they were either very supportive (64 percent) or supportive (18 percent) of the concept of establishing a network or cluster which would target emerging ICT/Health opportunities.

When stakeholders were asked to prioritise eHealth and ICT focused activities on a 1-5 ranking the top four ranked responses were:

After the second forum the following potential action areas are being considered:

Ballarat ICT Limited has confirmed the importance of developing an annual program of ICT events In conjunction with the Ballarat ICT Cluster, City of Ballarat and University of Ballarat. The goal is to engage the Ballarat ICT sector, major industry sectors and the broader community and also to initiate new activities which link to other networks, festivals and events. Options may include initiating a Lecture Series or Road Show to raise the whole profile of ICT in Ballarat.

As part of Stage 3 activities the Project Team is making a significant contribution to Ballarat's annual program of ICT events. Current and anticipated activities during 2008 include:

Over the next six months the Stage 3 Project Team will work with Ballarat ICT Limited and the City of Ballarat (Action Leader Anthony Schink) to build greater ownership and pride in local achievements. Specific strategies may include regular profiling of achievements in the My Ballarat Magazine, Come to Life Television promotion and the joint development of a Prospectus to support new business attraction and expansion at the University of Ballarat Technology Park.

Ballarat ICT Limited recognises the importance of fostering niche areas of ICT focus with areas of identified opportunity including further development of the games industry.

The Stage 3 Project Team has been active in building linkages with major projects such as the redevelopment of the Ballarat Civic Hall and Eureka Centre. The goal is to seek out commitment, capacity and funding to achieve piloting and adoption of innovative ICT products and services and/or to identify potential opportunities for 'laboratory' and 'test bed' activities in partnership with Ballarat's major industry sectors. The eHealth and ICT Cluster activities have the potential to contribute to fostering niche areas of ICT focus.

During the later part of 2007 members of the Ballarat ICT Cluster were invited to participate in discussions which focused on examining the development of educational products, programs and tools and identifying possible partnership opportunities and funding requirements for the Eureka Centre redevelopment. The focus was on identifying what ICT strategies and technologies could be creatively applied to the Eureka Centre's education and exhibition programs.

Participants were drawn from organisations including ASCET Creative, Commander Systems, Tenerquo, Regional Development Victoria, RU Advertising, BRACE Education, Training & Employment Ltd, Centre for Informatics & Applied Optimisation, Ballarat Secondary College, University of Ballarat, Yum Productions, Horizon Broadband Communications and Ziptales.

Events facilitated jointly by the Ballarat ICT Cluster Project Team and Lateral Projects included a forum at the Greenhill Enterprise Centre on 2 August 2007, a subsequent tour of the Eureka Centre and a telephone conference on 17 September 2007. Representatives from Lateral Projects were also invited to present at the Ballarat IT Specialists Breakfast on 4 October 2007 to provide further background on the Eureka Centre Redevelopment and information around Eureka's proposed organisational new structure, IP protection, IT opportunities and procedures for procurement (i.e. what is likely to procured via Council; what is likely to implemented via new not-for-profit company by guarantee in partnership with council and individual organisations, UB, others, etc.)

The purpose of the Ballarat IT Specialist presentation was two fold. Firstly it provided attendees with further information in areas were queries had been emerging. It also assisted in letting more organisations/individuals know about the opportunities to submit ICT and Education proposals prior to 17 October 2007.

On 29 February 2008 six local organisations were invited to present their project concepts to the City of Ballarat (represented by Stephen Jones, Anthony Schinck, George Sossi, Ron Edberg and David Miller) and Lateral Projects (represented by Katherine Armstrong & Teri Tan). At the time of writing this report advice regarding the outcomes of the assessment process is still pending.

Annie DeJong has been confirmed as the Action Leader responsible for identifying opportunities for projects which focus on the application of ICT to achieve social, environmental and sustainability goals.

Recent activities carried out in conjunction with Helen Thompson have included a review of the Ballarat.vic.au and LogOns project. This initiative supports not-for-profit organisations in developing the skills to establish and maintain a website. Young people recruited by LeadOn work alongside community representatives two nights each week under the guidance of Wayne from Virtual Bean.

Wayne (Virtual Bean) and April (LeadOn) will present to the Ballarat ICT Limited Board at the April meeting.

Another potential priority is to attract funding to support engagement of the local not-for-profit sector in development, planning and implementation of ICT projects. Discussions with the Department of Planning and Community Development are continuing.