Blue Mountains City Councillors got a first-hand look at successful co-working and makerspaces in Sydney recently.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
They took part in a roadshow organised by Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise (BMEE) to inform them about the different models of co-working and the social and economic benefits they generate.
Ward 1 Councillors Kerry Brown and Don McGregor, Ward 2 Councillor Chris Van der Kley and Ward 4 Councillor Darryl Bowling joined the BMEE team late last year to visit Oran Park Smart Work Hub, Makerspace & Co in Marrickville and Hub Sydney in Darlinghurst. Fantastic Aussie Tours donated a bus and driver for the day.
“This roadshow was designed to give councillors the opportunity to see these spaces for themselves and ask questions about how they operate,” said BMEE CEO Jacqueline Brinkman.
“Research shows that co-working and makerspaces catalyse social and economic activity, particularly in regional areas.
“We know that the rate of home-based businesses in the Blue Mountains has grown by 10 per cent in the past decade, while 59 per of the resident workforce leaves the Blue Mountains for work every day. A co-working and makerspace in the region would be transformational for the local economy, helping businesses to grow and collaborate while also capturing the lost economic opportunities that occur when people commute out of the region every day and spend their money elsewhere,” said Ms Brinkman.
Cr Kerry Brown said “the roadshow gave us an opportunity to see these collaborative spaces and to hear case studies of small business owners who have been able to take on bigger contracts, employ staff and scale up their businesses thanks to the collaborations and the physical space that co-working and makerspaces affords them”.
“I look forward to working with BMEE to see how we may be able to facilitate such a space here in the Blue Mountains.”
Cr Chris Van der Kley said “BMEE has done a tremendous amount of research and community engagement to demonstrate how a co-working and makerspace could benefit the Blue Mountains community and economy, and the roadshow gave us a chance to see this in action”.
“I am confident that such a facility would be of significant benefit to the Blue Mountains, and I hope that council and BMEE can continue to work together to facilitate this vision.”
Council is currently undertaking a review of Civic Place in Katoomba Street that may include examining the feasibility of the site for a co-working and maker space.
BMEE is also reviewing numerous other potential sites and options as part of this ongoing process.
