Cairns Regional Council refuses to disclose spending on new software program

CAIRNS Regional Council is being secretive yet again about how much ratepayers’ money has been spent on a new computer software system.

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CAIRNS Regional Council is being secretive yet again about how much ratepayers’ money is being spent on a new computer software system.

The council, in closed session yesterday, voted in favour of awarding its core platform renewal contract to Brisbane-based software company TechnologyOne Limited.

The company will implement a state-of-the-art software package known as OneCouncil that will enable integration between all council devices and networks to improve real-time connectivity and mobility of the workforce.

But both Mayor Bob Manning and chief executive John Andrejic declined to say how much the 10-year investment was worth. A council spokeswoman cited a commercial-in-confidence agreement.

Cr Manning only provided comments about the software program via a media release yesterday, refusing further questions from media.

Mr Andrejic said the council could not say how much the new system would cost because it would be rolled out in stages during the next three years.

“What happens now is we do a six-week detailed planning exercise,” he said.

“Out of that six-week detailed planning exercise, we work out the order of the modules and that we will roll them out.

“That affects the price, at least in part, so that’s why there’s not a firm price at this point.”

The Cairns Post last year revealed millions of dollars had been spent on the council’s trouble-plagued Council Information System project, which was designed six years ago to allow the local government to streamline its rates and registrations system.

However, the program, developed by software company Civica, was found to be defective and the council in October 2015, was advised to “terminate contract as amicably as possible”.

The Post’s Right To Information request in 2016 about the CIS project was initially rejected by council leadership as it was “contrary to the public interest”.

However, this decision was later overturned by Queensland’s Information Commissioner.

Mr Andrejic said the new system would improve the customer experience and open up new opportunities for expansion of council services.

“It’s no secret we had an issue a couple of years ago with what we’re trying to do now, but we haven’t had problems with the systems since then, so the systems are all working really well,” he said.

Originally published as Cairns Regional Council refuses to disclose spending on new software program