Wanganui District Council's new computer system is a first for local government in New Zealand and will improve the service to ratepayers and residents.

The Council has signed a contract with Australasian software and services company Technology One for its local government and finance and accounting systems. It is the first New Zealand council to implement the complete Technology One local government software system.

The new software will eventually allow customers to make transactions via the Internet, 24 hours/seven days a week, chief executive officer Colin Whitlock said.

"Our current computer system is 14 years old and while it has served us well in the past, it is not the system to meet current and future needs," Colin said.

"We carried out extensive evaluations of a range of systems before deciding on Technology One's systems. We needed a system that would streamline the processes between our business units as well as allowing us to start providing services over the web for our customers.

"Our vision for our information systems is that within two years we will be providing successful systems and services that are at the cutting edge of local government information management."

The Council has begun the process of implementing the new system, with some of the functions set to be up and running by July 1.

The eBusiness enabled financial management and property systems will enable the Council to provide increased productivity and cost efficiencies. The new solution will leapfrog the Council's accounting and property systems to the forefront of leading edge technology, providing major benefits for their ratepayers. These include improving business processes, automating manual tasks and providing easier access to better quality information, allowing managers to make more informed decisions.

For example, the software will enable the Council to provide an enquiry facility into building and planning applications for developers and residents and the mapping system will be placed on the Internet so people can call up a map and locate facilities.

According to Technology One CEO, Adrian Di Marco, with half of New Zealand's 73 councils the same size or larger than Wanganui there is extensive market scope for Technology One's solution for this sector. In particular, there is increasing pressure from the community to provide more services over the web.

"The New Zealand local government community is rapidly realising that they have to upgrade their systems to provide greater levels of customer service, particularly 24/7 access over the Internet," Mr Di Marco said.

"But these upgrades also provide councils with further major advantages including streamlining operations, greater flexibility, increased productivity and cost efficiencies."

June 1: Gonville Cottage Craft Industries Market
Venue: Gonville Town Hall, Tawa Street. 10am-3pm.

June 1: Rivercity Markets
Venue: Wanganui Racecourse car park. 8am-1pm.

June 1: Jockey Club Race Meeting
Venue: Wanganui Racecourse.

June 1: Wanganui Savage Club Conference Concert
Venue: Opera House. 7.30pm

June 1-2: U-18 Girls' Regional Hockey Tournament
Venue: Hockey Domain.

June 2: Vietnam Veterans' Reunion
Service of Remembrance, 11am. March from the Memorial Hall forecourt to the Cenotaph.

June 2: Volkswagon Rally
Meet at Virginia Lake car park. 9.30am.

June 2: Dowman Honda/Brunswick School Trail Ride
Venue: Brunswick School. Registration 8.30am.

June 3: PS Waimarie Special Queen's Birthday Sailing
1pm-4pm.

To June 3: Savage Club and Kindred Clubs - Dominion Biennial Conference
Venue: Royal Wanganui Opera House and Savage Hall.

More information about things to do in the Wanganui District is available from the Visitor Information Centre, 101 Guyton Street.

The following arrangements will be observed by the Council on Queen's Birthday Observance Day.

Municipal Office Building
Closed

Recyclable Collection
Normal refuse collection.
Recyclable items - plastic soft drink and milk bottles, aluminium cans, newspapers and cardboard should be placed at the kerbside no later than 8.00am on your normal collection days.

Information Centre
Open 10.00am to 3.00pm

District Library
Closed

Sarjeant Gallery
Open 1.00pm to 4.30pm

Whanganui Regional Museum
Open 1.00pm to 4.30pm

After hours services are listed in the telephone directory under 'Wanganui District Council'.

Vacancies

Building Inspector
Applications close on 10 June 2002.

Property Officer - Senior or Intermediate
Applications close on 17 June 2002.

Wanganui Rural Community Board
Thursday, June 6

The meeting will be held at 2.00pm in Committee Room 2, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.

Agendas are available at the Customer Services Desk, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui and the Wanganui District Library two working days prior to the meeting.

The Council welcomes members of the public to attend its meetings.

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