Melton Shire Council has developed a new high tech computer system which is saving resources and giving a major boost to efficiency in fire prevention checks. The new system helps record and control potential fire risk sites around the Shire by Local Laws officers using laptop computers linked to GPS satellite systems.
To develop the technology, Melton Shire worked with the City of Whittlesea, which had already adopted similar systems.
General Manager Corporate Services, Kelvin Tori, said the new system brought a marked upturn in efficiency.
“The officer can identify the property by linking it to a global positioning system, take a photo using a digital camera and enter the data at the site,” he said. “Officers simply enter the information on a laptop and then download it onto the main database at the Council, cutting down on paperwork.
“Notices are printed from the database giving householders or property owners 14 days to clear up the potential fire risk.
“Already the new system has some excellent results with 4,000 notices issued during 2004 against 1,800 last year. Previously this task required up to five people to work for two to three months and now it takes just one person to get the job done.”
The new system has further possible applications across other areas of Melton Shire Council’s work – IT and Local Laws.
Kel Tori said this is a good example of effective partnership working, initially between two Councils, and then between different departments within Council.
“What is most important, though, is the end result, which is an approach of working in a smarter way that translates into better services for ratepayers,” he said.
