As the Redlands Coast community experiences ongoing growth, the Redland City Council is actively exploring innovative methods to optimise the use of ratepayers’ funds.
One key approach is leveraging economies of scale across various council operations as the population increases.
This includes adopting advanced technologies and more efficient operational practices.
A notable example of this shift can be seen in the evolution of how the Council’s city operations team handles maintenance requests.
Over the past five years, there has been a significant transformation in managing these requests.
According to a Council spokesperson, the proportion of maintenance work that is proactively planned and scheduled, as opposed to being reactive to customer requests, has increased dramatically from around 25% five years ago to nearly 70% today.
“Five years ago, we were printing out hundreds of customer requests each day and sorting them manually,” the spokesperson explained. “Now, almost 20,000 of City Operation’s 30,000 annual work orders are based on planned inspections and programs, and these are managed digitally through daily worksheets.”
This shift towards a proactive approach allows the Council to deploy resources more efficiently, reducing the inefficiencies associated with reactive responses.
In a broader move, the Council is also transforming how residents interact with its services. A multi-year Digital Transformation Program is being rolled out, designed to provide easier access to information and services, allowing residents greater flexibility in choosing when and how to engage with the Council.
This initiative is expected to enhance cybersecurity, boost productivity, and improve efficiency across the organisation, ultimately delivering cost savings and better services to the community.
The program also aims to streamline customer interactions with the Council, making these processes more efficient and cost-effective.
The Council is also making strides in sustainability through the reuse and upcycling of materials. Small changes in this area not only contribute to cost savings but also foster a culture of environmental responsibility within the organisation.
For example, an old coffee cart at the Redland Performing Arts Centre in Cleveland has been repurposed as part of the new Encore Café.
Mayor Jos Mitchell emphasised the importance of these savings not coming at the expense of the services provided to ratepayers.
“Council’s commitment to managing resources effectively is predicated on maintaining and, in many cases, improving our services,” Mayor Mitchell stated. “Efficiencies are about ensuring the community gets the best value for their money. Since taking office, I’ve been working with the Council to ensure that Redlands Coast residents receive value for their rates and charges across the organization.”
The Council’s annual reports and other organisational documents track performance measures.
For instance, the Redland City Council Annual Report 2022-2023 highlighted that $902,796.25 in financial savings were achieved through initiatives such as fleet optimisation, contracting and purchasing improvements, and enhanced financial operations and library services.
The Council’s Financial Strategy 2016-2026 also underscores a commitment to maximising organisational efficiencies through ongoing business assessments, service level reviews, and the reform of service delivery modes to reduce costs and improve service delivery.
Redland City Council serves a diverse community of 166,873 residents and over 63,000 households on the Redlands Coast.
The area, located in Quandamooka Country, features over 335 kilometres of coastline, six island communities, and 12 mainland suburbs, all benefiting from the Council’s strategic initiatives aimed at ensuring sustainable and efficient service delivery.
News and image source: Redlands Coast Today
