Video conferencing and a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping service will soon be available at Moorabool Shire Council under a Federal Government initiative to use the National Broadband Network (NBN).
Moorabool secured $375,000 funding from the Federal Government’s Digital Local Government Program, which provides funding to eligible local councils to develop methods of using the high-speed broadband connectivity of the NBN to improve the quality, availability and timeliness of local government services.
Video conferencing units will be set up at council offices in Ballan, Darley and Lerderderg Library to enable users to interact online with council officers to discuss and resolve their enquiries from their homes and businesses.
Moorabool Mayor Cr Paul Tatchell said the use of this technology was exciting.
“This will connect council officers and the community in a way that has not been possible here before and we are looking forward to being able to offer video conferencing as a way of communication.”
The GIS mapping service will improve access to planning and location services. A link will be provided on council’s website that will enable access to information such as land parcel size, planning zones, places of interest, community facilities and road information.
“We are hoping that the implementation of these services will enable residents to gain information more effectively and reduce increasing demand on council’s customer service team as Moorabool Shire’s population continues to grow.”
