Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has welcomed news that Newcastle has been awarded $5 million in the first round of federal Smart City funding.The grant will be used for a range of interconnected transport, energy and digital infrastructure to help transform the city into a living digital lab. Ms Claydon said she had written to the Minister in support of the funding after being briefed by the Council on the bid. This funding will help Newcastle to continue to pursue its long-held vision of being a smart, connected, liveable city for the 21st century, Ms Claydon said. Funding will support projects including an electric vehicle hub; smart roads, bus stops and intersections; parking sensors; renewable energy monitoring and a city-wide data analytics platform. Ms Claydon said this was the latest chapter in Newcastles history of bold reinvention and successful transformation. Newcastle has long been recognised as an exemplar for its successful transition from a industrial base to a diverse, dynamic knowledge-based economy, Ms Claydon said. This grant cements Newcastle as one of the nations leading lights for innovation and digital transformation. Ms Claydon said Newcastle has again punched well above its weight by beating out tens of other cities and suburbs for funding. The Minister advised me that the competition for funding was incredibly tough, with more than 170 applications received from across the country, Ms Claydon said. The fact that Newcastle scooped ten per cent of the $50 million funding pool shows what a compelling project and position we have here.