Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is leading the way in innovative customer experience solutions with the launch of three new digital initiatives.
In March Council launched its online Real Estate Portal along with a new live web chat function and arrangement to pay option, all directed at better serving the community.
TRC Finance and Business Strategy Chair Cr Geoff McDonald said the new portal was the first of its kind in local government across Australia.
The Real Estate Portal is designed for local real estate agents and associated professional services to access rates and property information along with other related property services to work with potential buyers.
"The Real Estate Portal is a fantastic initiative which has been in development for over a year," Cr McDonald said.
"Real estate agents and solicitors across the region will be able to access property location and description, half-yearly rates and charges, outstanding balances, water meter readings and land area and valuation 24/7 using lot on plan in the search
criteria.
"It's a centralised location that will help to support real estate professionals and solicitors by ensuring information is at hand and the selling process is more efficient," Cr McDonald said.
"The new portal will become an essential tool for our real estate agents and associated professional services in our region. I'd like to congratulate all of the TRC staff involved in delivering this exciting project."
Council has also launched its new live web chat service to enhance the way Council connects with the community.
Residents and businesses can now contact Council's Customer Service team via the live web chat service on the TRC website. The new function provides residents with a quick and convenient option to 'chat' online with a customer service officer
between 9am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
TRC Finance and Business Strategy Portfolio Leader Cr Kerry Shine said Council is continuously looking for innovative ways to meet the needs of the community and local industry.
"These new services will provide the community with a convenient way to have their questions answered by a real person online from the comfort of their own home at a time that best suits their needs," Cr Shine said.
"Council is always working to deliver innovative and improved customer experiences to best serve the needs of our community and ensure doing business with Council is simple and easy."
Online arrangements to pay are now also available for registered ePathway users with less than six months of outstanding rates and charges. The new service is a convenient way for customers who need to contact Council out of business hours.
The service will allow property owners to calculate and determine suitable repayments in their own home in their own time 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
