From repositories to switchboards: Local governments as open data facilitators

As the hype around the Open Data movement fades, the need emerges for the conceptualisation and realisation of more sustainable, equitable and accessible Open Data practices. In this chapter, we share insights from a Code for Australia fellowship conducted in South-East Queensland, Australia. Our contributions are threefold: first, we show how an exploratory and participatory approach to internal local council technology projects can serve to identify Open Data use-cases through the early involvement of local community stakeholders; second, we propose a novel role of the custodianship and facilitation of Open Data exchange and alternate composition for local governments; and third, we articulate the need and concept for co-creative practices across smart city business units, local government IT departments and civil society in particular to successfully deliver Open Data.