Highlighting Innovation: Spatial Lab Director Graeme Hill presents at the 2024 Planning Institute of Australia Regional & Remote Conference.

We are thrilled to share that our Director, Graeme, recently had the honor of presenting at the 2024 Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) Regional & Remote Conference. This event showcased the latest rural planning trends and featured thought leadership from experts across Australia.

Themed "Reinvention: Planning in a Time of Change," the conference provided a platform to explore how the planning profession can seize opportunities amidst the evolving landscape. Graeme, alongside Jan Fallding, a Freelance independent strategic & social impact planner, shared insights into their innovative project—the 'AgTrack' Dashboard for NSW Department of Primary Industries.

The 'AgTrack' Dashboard, developed by Graeme and Jan, aims to simplify access to agricultural data for NSW councils, planners, and agricultural professionals. By leveraging information from the Australian Bureau of Statistics' Agricultural Census and Population Census, as well as data from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, the dashboard provides a comprehensive view of agricultural land use at the state, regional, and local government area (LGA) scales.

During the presentation, Graeme and Jan discussed the dashboard's features, highlighting its user-friendly and interactive format. They emphasized its significance in facilitating informed decision-making about agricultural land in NSW, both at the local and regional levels. The dashboard sheds light on the importance of local agricultural production and value within a broader regional and state context, while also showcasing surprising insights into agricultural employment data.

Furthermore, Graeme and Jan delved into the importance of such data in developing well-informed agricultural, rural land use, housing, employment, economic, and regional strategies. They demonstrated how the 'AgTrack' Dashboard simplifies this process, providing stakeholders with a valuable resource for strategic planning and decision-making.

The Spatial Lab is proud to have Graeme represent our commitment to innovation and excellence in the field of spatial analysis and planning. We are dedicated to driving positive change and empowering communities through cutting-edge solutions like the 'AgTrack' Dashboard.

For more information on the 'AgTrack' Dashboard read about the project here.