DevelopmentWA, the State Government’s land development agency, allocated funding during its COVID-19 recovery program to establish a facility to accelerate adoption of advanced technology and robotics. The initial design and budget for the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct addressed only connectivity, a single layer of the required technology stack. It soon became clear this would not be enough to support the long-term success of the precinct.
DevelopmentWA needed a broader approach that could deliver current and future needs. Another challenge was that the local ecosystem had limited capability to provide the complete suite of required technologies. This created difficulties in sourcing suppliers who could deliver all layers of the technology stack. Without addressing this, the precinct would not have the capability needed to meet customer demand or deliver on its objectives.
DevelopmentWA therefore required an approach that would provide additional capability, manage ecosystem constraints and establish a pathway for future enhancements.
DevelopmentWA engaged Trestle Digital during later design phases to identify the technology layers and capabilities required for the precinct. Trestle worked closely with DevelopmentWA, prospective customers and technology suppliers to capture detailed requirements.
The process included analysis of comparable precincts around the world to understand best practice and opportunities. Trestle also incorporated future-focused insights provided by leading international vendors. The resulting strategy expanded the scope of the project from connectivity to include sensors, data services and application layers such as digital twin capabilities. These were identified as critical to supporting innovation and operational excellence.
One of the main challenges was the limited local capability to deliver the full suite of required technologies. To address this, Trestle recommended restructuring the RFP process. The new structure enabled multiple providers to bid for important packages of work, while some enhancements were deferred to later phases. This approach ensured critical requirements were prioritised and achievable within the available ecosystem capability.
The project delivered a comprehensive technology strategy that provided DevelopmentWA with a robust business case. This business case unlocked significant additional capital investment that supported delivery of the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct.
The expanded strategy broadened the focus beyond connectivity to include sensors, data services and digital twin capabilities. This provided a foundation for long-term innovation and operational excellence. A staged approach to delivery enabled rollout of the most critical services first, while further enhancements were aligned with customer demand. The restructuring of the RFP process also ensured that multiple suppliers could participate in delivering key packages of work, creating opportunities for the most capable providers to contribute.
As a result, the initial technology services were successfully rolled out across the precinct. The primary beneficiaries have been DevelopmentWA and its current and future customers, who now have access to a more capable and future-ready innovation hub. Trestle’s involvement has also extended to further engagements with DevelopmentWA.
