Each edition we feature the views of a Local Government Association President. The following is from Councillor Brad Matheson, President of the Municipal Association of Victoria.
In a world more and more focused on the immediacy of information, global access and online economies, Local Government is uniquely positioned to open up new horizons for business, residents and the local community.
In decades gone by, Councils were instrumental in establishing the local library as an accessible repository for information, literature and a host of other activities – either for free or at an affordable price.
The Municipal Association of Victoria has taken this concept and is adapting it to the IT age. The Local Government Online Strategy is about skilling, equipping and enhancing Councils’ capacity to provide electronic services and access to the local community and business.
It’s about providing a centralised portal from which local business and industry can promote their wares, encourage sales and advance economic development. It’s also another avenue to enhance and promote the local ‘identity’ of the region.
The Local Government Online Strategy is a multi million dollar, multi tiered program. Supported by $5.8 million funding from the Commonwealth Networking the Nation program, it is designed to position Councils to further enhance local online access and capabilities.
Specifically, its objectives include the following
- To increase the online capacity of all Councils across Victoria
- To give Victorian Councils the tools and structure to boost their online capacity and their e-commerce capabilities
- To assist Victorian Councils in providing increased Internet and e-commerce capacity and capabilities to local businesses and the local community.
There are four components of the program.
Online Services – establishing an environment where there is a wide range of online services.
Community Enablement – assisting the user community to develop the skills, knowledge and capabilities to be able to efficiently and effectively use online services.
Infrastructure – ensuring that Local Government has access to the computer hardware and telecommunications services to allow it to effectively deliver services.
Organisational Development – empowering Local Government to have the skills and knowledge to be able to implement and maximise the benefit to be gained from the use of best value online services.
In announcing the Networking the Nation funding, Prime Minister John Howard praised the practical nature of the strategy, saying it would: “… enable Victorian Councils to make services such as tenders, planning and building applications, new payment options and a range of information on community facilities available over the internet”.
The first elements of the strategy – an audit of the current capability and capacity of Councils – is currently under way. Development of a base service model and enhanced service delivery components will then follow.
This is an exciting project that not only has direct benefits in terms of a Council’s local IT strategy, but it promotes Local Government as the natural community leader – taking care of, servicing, enhancing and providing opportunity and access for the local community.
