West Coast Council has partnered with CouncilFirst to modernise its core business systems as part of a broader digital transformation journey.

Located on Tasmania’s rugged west coast, West Coast Council governs one of the largest municipal areas in the state. The region is known for its dramatic landscapes, historic mining towns and strong connection to wilderness tourism, with communities including Queenstown, Zeehan, Strahan and Rosebery spread across a geographically vast area.

Delivering services across such a large and remote region presents unique challenges for the Council, particularly when it comes to infrastructure management, community engagement and digital accessibility.

Recognising the Need for Change

The transformation follows a review of the Council’s existing business systems, which identified a long period of underinvestment and increasing inefficiencies.

Over time, a number of legacy systems had become difficult to maintain and were no longer meeting the needs of the organisation. Limited integration between systems had also led to duplication of information and manual workarounds for staff.

For West Coast Council, the decision to modernise was not simply about replacing technology, it was about improving how the organisation operates and how it serves its community.

Improving customer service was a key driver. With a growing number of property owners living interstate or outside the immediate region, the Council recognised the need for more accessible digital services that allow people to interact with Council online.

Why CouncilFirst

CouncilFirst was selected following a competitive procurement process, with the platform recognised as a strong fit for the needs of a smaller regional council.

The Council valued CouncilFirst’s focus on local government and its understanding of the operational realities faced by regional councils.

Equally important was the platform’s foundation within the Microsoft ecosystem, providing a familiar environment for staff and helping reduce the complexity of training and adoption.

The technical architecture also ensures the system can grow with the organisation over time, supporting improved data quality, integration, and long-term capability.

Looking Ahead

For West Coast Council, the transformation is about more than systems.

One of the key goals of the project is to ensure staff feel confident using the tools that support their daily work.

The Council hopes that by implementing modern, integrated systems, employees will feel greater ownership over the way they work, reducing frustration and improving overall job satisfaction.

The implementation will take place over a staged period as part of the Council’s broader digital roadmap.

We look forward to working closely with West Coast Council throughout the implementation and supporting the organisation as it strengthens the systems that underpin services to its community.