Rockhampton takes on the GovHack challenge

Published on 25 July 2016

If you were presented with an endless supply of data, could you create a business concept in just 46 hours?

A team of 13 locals consisting of IT experts, software developers, researchers and innovators are about to take on this very challenge known as GovHack and are calling for more people to join in!

GovHack is an annual open data competition where teams across Australia have 46 hours to create a project page, proof of concept and a video that tells the story of how government open data can be reused.

Rockhampton is the smallest town in Queensland and the second smallest in Australia competing in the event.

Rockhampton Regional Council’s Senior Digital Officer, Gareth Martin, who is coordinating the Rockhampton GovHack team, said the team is looking forward to turning data into something that could help everyday people.

“What could be created as a result of using open data could change the way we do business and at the same time it could encourage new business,” he said.

“Our team of experts also demonstrates our local talent and an appetite to be successful.”

The team will work out of Council’s 212 Quay Street Smart Hub that was recently established for local entrepreneurs and innovators to incubate.

Rockhampton Region Mayor Margaret Strelow said the use of open data is helping more people than ever before in the research and development phase for small businesses.

“The availability of the information often helps small businesses understand the needs of the local community which in turn helps them make better business decisions,” she said.

Competition categories will be announced at 7pm on Friday 29 July and the competition will end on 31 July.

The successful ‘hack’ will be announced within the month after the competition opens.

Anyone interested in joining the Rockhampton team for the ‘hackathon’ can contact 4932 9000. For more information on GovHack visit www.govhack.org.