Stuart Ayres MP, Member for Penrith today joined Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler and Councillor Bernard Bratusa to welcome the announcement that Penrith has been selected as a location for a ‘Smart Work Hub’ pilot.
“This is terrific news and will offer Penrith commuters the opportunity to work closer to home,” said Stuart Ayres.
“By providing Penrith residents with the opportunity to work closer to where they live it offers a greater work-life balance,”
“The Penrith Smart Work Hub will be located in the CBD, will cater for 40 people and is to be managed by Penrith City Council.”
Councillor Bernard Bratusa said Penrith is all about working smart and the introduction of the Smart Work Hub in the CBD will provide a unique and positive opportunity for the people of the region.
“Yet again this initiative highlights the can do attitude of both Penrith City Council and the NSW Government in delivering for Western Sydney,” added Clr Bratusa
Councillor Fowler said as a Regional City Penrith is ideally placed for this pilot program which will improve economic activity in the region.
A ‘Smart Work Hub’ is a facility or space that offers workers an alternative to working in their normal place of work or working from home – teleworking from a ‘third space’. Priority for the location of the pilots was given to Western Sydney due to the potential benefits for the large commuter population
The Penrith Smart Work Hub will be up and running by the end of 2014 and will operate for a minimum of 12 months. It will offer a wide range of facilities for corporate clients or casual users, including fast broadband, Wi-Fi, video conferencing, meeting spaces, kitchens and onsite IT support.
In establishing Smart Work Hubs in Western Sydney, it will assist in accelerating the many economic and productive benefits of using technology to support smart working practices.
Data and feedback will be collected on the pilots in their first 12 months to better understand user demand, successful operating models and the benefits for business and the NSW economy.
