More Free GIS Datasets From Australia Released

The Victorian Coalition Government has announced today that is has achieved another milestone as part of its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Strategy by making more than 1,000 datasets available to the public online at www.data.vic.gov.au.

Speaking at the ninth annual Victorian Spatial Excellence Awards, Minister for Technology, Gordon Rich-Phillips said more than 1,000 datasets are now available including around 550 spatial datasets.

Also known as geospatial data, these datasets identify the geographic location of the features and boundaries of Victoria, Australia; both natural or constructed.

Mr Rich-Phillips said government invests in and commissions significant spatial data that identifies flood plains, water catchment areas, local government areas, addresses, coastal areas, airports and state boundaries.

“This first stage of spatial data release includes local government, electoral, urban growth and planning scheme boundaries, rail network, relief contour data and parks and conservation areas,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.

Mr Rich-Phillips said Coalition Government’s ICT Strategy was committed to ensuring that all Victorians have access to up-to-date, high-quality, reusable data and information that is relevant to our state – as spelt out in our DataVic Access policy.

“Providing more open access to government data will help drive innovation, create new business opportunities and also enable the development of new technologies, new products and new services,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.

“Releasing spatial data – alongside transport and traffic data – has proved highly popular in many jurisdictions around the world and I will continue to advocate strongly for the release of government data and the full implementation of the DataVic Access policy.”

Victorian Government data is available at www.data.vic.gov.au

The Victorian Coalition Government ICT Strategy is available at www.digital.vic.gov.au

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