Council’s digital transformation initiative set to continue in new financial year

An exciting digital project is taking shape within Redland City Council in the form of a new venue booking system.

Just one of several digital uplifts and innovations to be rolled out as part of Council’s Digital Transformation Program, the Bookable Spaces project will offer a self-service customer portal, granting 24/7 access for customers to search venues and make, manage, and pay for their bookings.

Redland City Mayor Jos Mitchell said the project would have benefits for community members, groups, and clubs, as well as Council employees.

“Bookable Spaces will consolidate and integrate all functions to do with booking Council spaces, which includes more than 100 halls, sports fields, parks, beaches and a pool,” she said.

“We aim to go live with online bookings for our community venues, library and IndigiScapes spaces by about September 2024, with other spaces to be added soon after.

“This shift to online bookings will greatly enhance the experience of our customers when reserving Council spaces, saving them time and ensuring a more efficient process.”

The Mayor said Council’s Digital Transformation Program, which has been identified as a catalyst project in Council’s Corporate Plan, set a vision for modern systems and digital processes that make it easier for the community to interact with Council.

“We live in a digital age and our community and customers quite rightly expect their council to provide a contemporary, digital-based experience that fits in with their busy lives,” the Mayor said.

“With a significant but essential investment of about $45 million over four to seven years, the Digital Transformation journey will impact every facet of Council operations.”

Council has laid the foundations for change over the past 12 months by partnering with software provider TechnologyOne to access an integrated software solution specifically packaged to meet the needs of local governments.

The uplift of Council’s core digital systems and offerings, and transition away from eight current separate systems, will be undertaken in a staged approach to ensure continuity of service and maintain robust cyber security.

The cloud-based modules will each support different Council functions (such as customer requests, rating, and procurement) while interfacing with each other, sharing information to improve internal processes and ultimately provide customers with better, faster and more responsive services that can be accessed online, any time.

A total of $6 million has been set aside in Council’s 2024–2025 Budget for several Digital Transformation projects.

This coming year will see the launch of both the Bookable Spaces and Request Management projects, significant progress in a Supply Chain and Contracts project, and foundation work for several others.

The Mayor said the Request Management project was well underway and was expected to be operational later this year.

“This online, cloud-based system will make it easier for both customers and Council employees to lodge requests,” she said.

“Council officers won’t need to go back to the office, instead actioning their work requests from our parks, roadsides and conservation areas.

“The system will also provide initiators of requests with greater visibility of their status in close to real time.

“A selection of frequently requested services will be made available online to the community in this first phase.”

The Supply Chain and Contracts project is underway and will be delivered in about 12 months’ time.

This project aims to improve Council’s procurement processes, providing a more robust framework for managing performance and compliance in procurement operations and managing contracts.

Redland City Council provides a suite of services to 166,873 residents and more than 63,000 residential households across Redlands Coast. Our naturally wonderful city on Quandamooka Country is home to more than 335 kilometres of coastline, six island communities and 12 mainland suburbs.