The Victorian Spatial Council is currently considering whether to recommend legislation that would establish a framework for sharing spatial data.

The council represents business, government, and academic spatial professionals. It has recently published a development strategy, and is now considering the best way to implement that strategy.

Oli Hedberg, chair of the council, said the council was looking at the possibility of legislation, guidelines and regulations to push the strategy forward.

“We need a practical framework of rules that will deliver accessible and useful spatial information,” he said.

In many cases the guidelines will simplify and formalise existing practices. In others it may cost to convert, Hedberg said. But over time business will see operational savings from the reduction in duplicated data and the resources required to acquire that data.

The council believes that to improve the use of spatial data a strong institutional environment is needed, including a framework for managing information, giving custodians the tools to manage information, licensing that facilitates access, and the establishments of long lasting partnerships.

Hedberg believes that for data to be useful it must be consistent, of high quality, and have an easily identifiable source.

The council does not want to interfere with existing legislation but to make it more co-ordinated. It is currently discussing whether to use some form of the creative commons license for licensing.