Warrnambool council to swap computer software for staff

A decision to move the council over to Microsoft Officer 365 was backed by councillors, and while Cr David Owen said it seemed like a lot of money, it was "a necessary investment for council".

"We're going to be using IT a lot more in the future. COVID has really changed the way we conduct meetings. This will become the norm, at least for some time I would imagine," he said.

Crs Owen and Sue Cassidy said it was money well spent.

Cr Cassidy said IT was the most important part of any company - big or small.

She said the new software would help the council to interact better with other councils, especially with the introduction of shared services between the councils.

"It will help staff to be under the same umbrella," she said.

She said it didn't matter where staff were working from - home or the office - during COVID times, everyone would be able to use it.

Cr Mike Neoh said the pandemic had demonstrated how important IT was.

"My only concern is while we invest in software and hardware, we have to make sure our IT department is also supplied with resources to make sure that we mitigate risks," Cr Neoh said.

"So it's really important to invest in our HR personnel in relation to the IT department."

The three-year software deal will cost $352,136 - an increase of about 20 per cent on the last agreement.

Last year, Warrnambool, Corangamite and Moyne councils were given a state government grant to transition a number of ICT services to a centralised system that would allow the councils to cut technology demands and costs.

It aimed to standardise the information systems that deliver finance, human resources, business, IT, planning and waste services.

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