Mackay City Council is using an innovative online tool that provides residents and ratepayers with access to a wide variety of information on land and property, planning and land use, services and infrastructure and community facilities. Powered by Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, Mackay Internet Mapping and Property System (MiMAPS) can be viewed by anyone with Internet access.
Council’s GIS Administrator, Graham Smith, said the system was introduced early in 2006 to assist Council’s Planning Department accommodate an increasing number of planning applications.
“The Mackay City Council area is currently experiencing a period of major expansion, with anticipated growth of 2.3 per cent per annum expected to continue for at least the next ten years,” he said. “This increasing demand for development resulted in a substantial increase in enquiries for development information and placed enormous pressure on Council’s Customer Service and Planning staff.
“Providing this information via the Internet has resulted in more efficient delivery of information and provides basic information needed for people to make planning and development applications.”
Through the MiMAPS system, users can now view Mackay’s geographical and mapping information, such as road hierarchies, aerial images, property addresses, location of water and sewerage mains and lot sizes, along with information specifically related to the development and planning industries. The information available is designed to be of interest to a range of people, from homeowners considering an extension or installing a swimming pool, to property developers and real estate agents seeking new opportunities.
“Our planners are also finding it useful when discussing plans with interstate contacts,” Graham Smith said. “They can each have the web site open with the same map in front of them, so they both have a clear idea of the land in reference.”
The project, which took six months from conception to implementation, included rigorous testing and consultation with key stakeholders, including businesses, State Government agencies and other Councils.
Since its release, there has been a major reduction in planning consultant enquiries, with the site receiving an average of more than 17,000 hits per week.
For further information contact Graham Smith on (07) 4968 4444 or visit www.mackay.qld.gov.au/mimaps to use the system.
