How Fraser Coast council’s $450k telecommunications savings will impact rates

A $450,000 difference in a recently signed council contract is expected to have an impact on the hip pocket of ratepayers over the next three years. Here is why.

A new telecommunications contract signed bv the Fraser Coast Regional Council will save ratepayers about $450,000 over three years.

Councillor Zane O’Keefe said the savings from the new Telstra contract would mean more funds for other services and would help keep rates to a minimum.

“Changing to another supplier would have required council to replace desk phones and SIM cards in mobile devices, which would have been time consuming and costly,” Mr O’Keefe said.

“The new contract will bring other benefits such as Telstra boosting the council’s data allowance for Telstra mobile devices by four times and enables us to access 5G technology which is bring rolled out across the region.

“The access to mobile technology will free staff to spend more time in the field as they can access files and information from most locations and do not need to head back to the office.

Councillor Zane O’Keefe said the savings from the new contract with Telstra would mean more funds for other services and would help to keep rates to a minimum.

“Investigations staff will also be able to report back with information and talk with other staff directly from jobs sites, which improves our reaction times and boosts productivity.”

Telecommunications systems cost the council about $140,000 a month, which covers fixed data lines (40 per cent); mobile phones, tracking and mobile data (40 per cent) and fixed voice systems (20 per cent).

Deputy Mayor Paul Truscott said any savings council could make was a good result for the community.

“Especially in the current climate where prices are going through the roof on most things,” he said.

“Currently, we have been going through the budget process, which is coming to a conclusion mid-June.

“I am staggered at the price of some items and as councillors we are regularly questioning items of concern.

“Some items I can‘t accept cost as much as we are told, but others, with evidence and witnessing the changes due to supply chain demands and some places price gouging, in my opinion simply because council is a level of government, it’s an unfortunate situation we are faced with that things cost what they do now, until hopefully the financial situation may calm down if and when demand decreases.”

Originally published as How Fraser Coast council’s $450k telecommunications savings will impact rates