Government funds interactive council websites

Spread over more than 3,000 square kilometres, resident dealings with the RCoW council offices can be a time consuming exercise. Sorting out building applications and many other tasks would be so much more convenient if they could be done online.

To make this possible, the federal government will provide $5.8 million to enable councils across Victoria to provide services to their local communities over the internet.

This project is part of the latest round of Networking the Nation projects funded from the proceeds of the part sale of Telstra.

The Rural City of Wangaratta currently has limited online service delivery. This funding announcement could assist them over the next two years to improve services to Wangaratta communities by making important services accessible over the internet.

These will include tenders (documents already online - submissions not online), planning and building applications, new payment options and a range of information on community facilities. It would enable residents to comment on development proposals using the internet, pay their rates online and improve the capacity of local businesses to sell to local government.

The project has been recommended by the Networking the Nation Board based upon a strategy put forward by the Municipal Association of Victoria. All 78 councils in Victoria have been consulted and are working collaboratively to develop the project.

Let us hope the Rural City of Wangaratta takes up the challenge.

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Source: $5.8 million to put Victorian Local Government online

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