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Client:  Raymond DeLai – HRIC Hinchinbrook Shire Council

The Herbert Resource Information Centre (HRIC) is a non-profit catchment-based Geographic Information System (GIS) facility that supports decision-makers in the Herbert River Catchment.

Work undertaken by the HRIC is designed to improve land and water management in the district by providing and allowing access to geographic information, GIS tools, and expertise in an environment that improves communication and collaboration. The HRIC also plays a vital role in facilitating communications and rapport between diverse interest groups and is recognised as playing an important part in community development.

The HRIC was an unincorporated joint venture partnership (JVP) between Hinchinbrook Shire Council, CSR Ltd, Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd, CANEGROWERS, the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines and CSIRO – Sustainable Ecosystems. The six joint venture partners agreed to freely provide and share data within the JVP relationship for the 10 year period 1996 to 2006.

The HRIC needed to map out it’s future beyond 2006 and address issues of resourcing, structure, and strategy for a second generation HRIC to operate for a further 10 years.

The HRIC JVPs contracted Spatial Vision and Ian Plowman to develop a Strategic Plan for the next 10 years. The development of the Strategic Plan considered the four key areas of: information management; technology; organisational and institutional arrangements; and people. The planning process involved extensive consultation with the key community stakeholders in the Herbert River district to develop a common vision for the next generation HRIC.

The Strategic Plan identified opportunities to further develop an integrated and holistic approach to managing existing and new spatial information technologies and deliver sustained value from spatial information. The plan recommended the creation of a new Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) to better deliver timely information to partners and the community.

The plan also identified a business model to fund and maintain the implementation and ongoing operation of these systems. The business model took into account the existing JVP’s and the potential for new partners.

Implementation of the strategic plan is now well underway. For further information about the HRIC, refer to www.hric.org.au

Demonstrated Capabilities

• Strong understanding of spatial technologies and their application to different communities of practice
• Engaging consultation processes
• High quality report writing and presentation
• Working in collaboration with clientDeep understanding of spatial technologies and the practicalities of implementing operational GIS

Resources

Ian Miller and Graeme Martin undertook the consultancy for Spatial Vision
Ian Plowman, is a social researcher, www.plowman.com.au