When you go to Kiama Council’s website after 29 June, expect a new, improved online experience.

Not merely a facelift, the site has been rebuilt from the ground up to provide a easier, customer-focused online experience.

“We commissioned extensive independent research to better understand what our community needed,” says Council’s General Manager Kerry McMurray.

“Because of this research we knew we needed to provide the community with more ways to deal with us online.

“The advantage of the system we’ve selected is that we can continue to improve our site and easily add more functions.

“It will evolve with us.”

The new site has been designed to be easier to navigate, after research showed what people looked for most.

This is backed up by a more powerful and smarter search engine.

New features include announcements of emergencies and closures; What’s my bin day?; What’s near me?; and a Do it online section.

There is also a range of online options, from registering companion animals, reporting issues and providing swimming pool details.

“We always intended for our new website to provide more ways to deal with Council online,” says Mr McMurray.

“The challenges of COVID simply meant we had to make that happen earlier than planned.

“The goal is to not only provide our community with quicker and simpler ways to interact with their Council, but also allow our customer service staff to focus on customers with more complex issues or questions.

“The financial investment by Council is relatively modest compared to many of our bricks and mortar projects, but the savings will be considerable by serving our community more efficiently and having staff focusing their skills and experience where it benefits our community most.”

Council’s website remains www.kiama.nsw.gov.au