Townsville Access Mapping (TAM) is the newest addition to the suite of products available to residents and businesses. Townsville City Council was one of the first Local Governments in Australia to implement a Geographic Information System some 20 years ago. Council understood that representing information spatially in map format with associated databases would provide tremendous benefits to both its internal processes and the community.
Council’s Customer Service Supervisor, Kenneth Melchert, said the challenge was to make this extensive database of information available to the community.
“Townsville was one of the first Queensland Councils to provide an interactive mapping service to its external customers over the Internet,” he said.
Scoring 2,000 hits per week, TAM, the new Internet based mapping service developed by the Land Information Unit, enables people to access Council information.
Kenneth Melchert said the development of online mapping products has also provided Council with the opportunity to develop community based projects to assist residents with locating education, emergency and recreation centres.
Several products have been developed to cater for the specific needs of architects and engineers, to solicitors and real estate agencies.
“The application of our online mapping service is unlimited and we have used the technology to provide community projects highlighting regional arts and culture, developments within the Townsville CBD and for the mapping and conservation of our local historic cemetery,” Kenneth Melchert said.
In other developments, Townsville is moving ahead in using the Internet. With the Internet playing an ever larger role in everyday life, Council recognises the need and advantages of providing its services and information online.
The web site is the cyber front door of Townsville City Council to both Townsville and the rest of the world. The site presents an enjoyable user experience providing the services and information the community needs in an easy, fast and convenient manner. It is community focused – the home page and navigation menus have been designed based on actual usage and use terminology familiar to the general public.
Common pages are accessed by only one or two mouse clicks.
The dynamic front page includes links to the latest and most popular information identified by the community. The site has a consistent look and feel, while professionally designed graphics provide a common theme through the site without detracting from overall legibility.
A content management system allows departmental custodians to directly update their pages ensuring content stays fresh and relevant.
A variety of services are now offered online including community events calendars, rates payment, parking fines, dog registration, development applications, weather forecasts, media releases, annual reports, legislation, mapping, tourist guides, employment, emergency information, historical information, youth services, community and business development.
For more details contact Kenneth Melchert on (07) 4727 9522 or email kwm@townsville.qld.gov.au
