Located in South Australia's Limestone Coast, Naracoorte Lucindale Council is home to the World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves, a strong wine and primary production sector, and the Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange – one of the largest livestock selling centres in Australia. With approximately 60 per cent of its rate base classified as rural, the needs of the region are diverse, supported by a relatively lean Council team.

As Council looked to the future, modernising the technology behind its operations became an important priority.

Moving beyond legacy systems

The opportunity was not simply to replace an ageing system, but to introduce technology that could make everyday work easier – reducing manual effort, improving reporting and giving staff better access to the information they need.

Council wanted a solution appropriate for its size, resources and operational requirements. Early conversations therefore focused on understanding what Council genuinely needed without introducing unnecessary complexity.

CouncilFirst's Essentials offering provided that fit, giving Council access to modern technology and functionality within an environment suited to the way it operates.

Just as important was the relationship established throughout the process. The ease of conversation with the CouncilFirst team, combined with strong technical knowledge during the evaluation process, gave Council confidence in both the solution and the people behind it.

As the project progresses, Council has set a clear measure for success: its people. Staff satisfaction, a smooth transition and confidence working within the new environment will be key indicators of a successful implementation.

For CouncilFirst, the partnership is another opportunity to support a regional council in moving beyond legacy technology at a pace and scale that makes sense for its organisation.