Wellington Shire Council and East Gippsland Shire Council are delighted with their win at the LGPro Awards for Excellence in the Innovative Management category. The award recognises the outstanding collaboration and achievements of both councils in the Datacentre and ICT Consolidation - Shared Services Project.
The project, a joint initiative between Wellington and East Gippsland Shire Councils, marks a groundbreaking milestone in Local Government collaboration and technology innovation. By consolidating data centres and ICT infrastructure, both councils have achieved remarkable advancements in cybersecurity, data protection, and disaster-recovery services. The project also significantly reduces the environmental footprint of both councils, while improving service efficiencies and cost savings.
Wellington Shire Council Mayor Ian Bye congratulates the innovative project team, "there's a significant team of people behind this win that deserve all the credit, I am always surprised and delighted by the level of innovation that we can achieve by collaborating with our neighbours and across councils more broadly".
"We are honoured to receive this recognition for driving innovation and efficiency through our Shared Services partnership, this award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of teams across two neighbouring councils to deliver tangible benefits to communities across a really large geographical area", Cr Bye said.
East Gippsland Shire Council Mayor Tom Crook said it was a great example of the behind-the-scenes work local government does to support community and continually look at improvements and efficiencies.
"It has improved business efficiencies and will ensure that we can continue to service our communities during times of natural disasters such as fire and flood by using shared technology platforms and private microwave communication networks across the two neighbouring shires", Cr Crook said.
The project's success will save approximately $3.36 million over the next ten years, demonstrating its financial sustainability and long-term value to both councils and the community. This achievement emphasises both councils' commitment to responsible financial management and technological advancement for the benefit of residents.
"This award-winning project showcases the power of collaboration and shared services in delivering transformative outcomes," added David Morcom, Chief Executive Officer at Wellington Shire Council. "We look forward to continuing our journey of innovation and excellence as we work for our communities".
East Gippsland CEO Fiona Weigall echoed those sentiments.
"We have jointly championed proactive improvements in service delivery and efficiencies since our ICT Memorandum of Understanding began in 2015. This latest, and very significant, project demonstrates that partnership continues to service both councils well."
The LGPro Awards for Excellence celebrate and promote the outstanding work of individuals and teams in Local Government across Victoria. Wellington and East Gippsland Shire Councils' win highlights their leadership and commitment to driving positive change through innovative management practices.
