Starting Smart Projects in Smaller Councils and Dispersed Communities

17.09.25 12:18 AM By Robyn Francis

This two-part Smart Cities Council edition of What's Smart, delivered in partnership with ALGIM, focused on how smaller councils and dispersed communities can make smart progress even with limited time and budgets. In part one, speakers shared practical pathways for getting started and overcoming common barriers.

Speakers:

Mike Manson, CEO, ALGIM
Justin Bagust, CIO, Timaru District Council
Sean Holden, CEO, Flinders Ranges Council (part two)

The message was clear: smart projects aren’t just about technology - they’re about outcomes, equity, and trust. Councils can start small, solve real pain points, and build momentum by celebrating quick wins.

Examples ranged from Timaru’s low-cost IoT smog sensors to Horizons Regional Council’s DIY 3D-printed drones for water testing, showing that innovation doesn’t always need a big budget.

Key lessons:

Start small and practical.
Link projects to real community needs.
Communicate clearly to bring staff and residents along.

Looking ahead, AI, automation, and digital engagement offer opportunities for smaller councils to deliver more efficient services and empower communities. The takeaway: with focus on outcomes, even the smallest councils can make smart progress.

In Part 2, the conversation focused on building smarter councils in Regional Australia. We turned to Sean Holden, CEO of Flinders Ranges Council in South Australia, who shared how one of the country’s most geographically dispersed councils is using smart technology to overcome the “tyranny of distance.”

Covering 4,200 km² with fewer than 1,700 residents, the council faces unique challenges around connectivity, resilience, and essential services. For Sean, smart progress starts with making a “big place feel smaller” through better roads, reliable power, mobile coverage, and digital tools.

Practical initiatives include:

An AI chatbot (“Flynn”) to answer common resident queries.

Accessibility tools on the council website.
Digital twins of wastewater systems, saving up to $30,000 annually.
IoT water sensors, which detected a leak that saved $20,000—equivalent to 1% of the council’s annual rates revenue.

Sean stressed the importance of starting small, partnering with innovative firms, and embracing the council’s size as an advantage for agility. He also cautioned against moving too fast without staff buy-in, framing AI and automation as tools to free people for more community-facing work rather than cutting jobs.

His closing message: “Embrace technology, partner widely, and think globally—even small councils can make smart progress when they focus on outcomes, efficiency, and livability.”