Queensland councils enhance digital tools with Granicus

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has partnered with Granicus to enhance digital tools for Queensland's councils, focusing on improving community liveability.

Queensland, Australia's second-largest state, demands significant attention from its local councils due to a growing population nearing six million and the unique challenges presented by its decentralised communities. The LGAQ, representing the state's 77 councils, aims to utilise digital solutions to address these challenges effectively.

Spanning from Torres Strait in the north to the Gold Coast in the south, Queensland encompasses 1.8 million square kilometres, serviced entirely by local government. The LGAQ's role is to facilitate the adoption of digital tools that deliver essential data insights to improve community welfare.

Alison Smith, LGAQ Chief Executive Officer, remarked, "Our goal for the LGAQ is to help our councils improve their digital services and capability so that they can continue to find ways to enhance service to their communities and find efficiencies that will save time for everyone. Granicus' suite of tools provide some great options for councils that will help them to offer more seamless online functions that Queensland communities want."

Granicus, a provider in government technology, will support Queensland's councils with a multi-channel approach to digital governance. This includes guided digitisation, online forms, surveys, and public consultation forums tailored to fulfill varied community needs.

Granicus' OpenCities platform, known for its user-friendly design and analytical capabilities, aims to streamline citizen experiences by enabling councils to maintain efficient online services. This initiative is intended to simplify the creation of intuitive websites and tailored digital content for residents.

"Granicus' solutions make services more accessible for councils so they can continue to focus on delivering community liveability services, infrastructure and programs," stated Ms Smith.

Gabriele Masili, Chief Customer Officer at Granicus, expressed support, stating, "We are proud to support the people who serve the people to navigate digital transformation and better engage with the changing needs of their communities. We applaud the holistic approach to data LGAQ is taking in considering the diversity of experiences, successes, and challenges its member community faces."

Commencing in July 2024, the five-year engagement between LGAQ and Granicus is designed to help LGAQ members utilise solutions like Granicus OpenCities and OpenForms, enhancing their digital offerings significantly.

Granicus' technologies are already employed by nearly 60 per cent of local governments in Australia to enhance community interaction continuously. Their flagship solution, Engagement Cloud, is integral to this strategy, furthering the cause of public consultation and participation.