Council Website Updates Put Community Feedback Into Action
Ararat Rural City Council is continuing to update and expand its website in response to community feedback, making it easier for residents, businesses, visitors, and community groups to find the information and services that matter to them.
A recent example is the creation of Council’s new disability webpage, developed after community members identified an opportunity for Council to communicate more clearly and comprehensively about disability services, supports, and local information.
The page brings together information for people living with disability, their families, carers, and support networks, including local service-provider information, Council’s disability-related work, and opportunities to contribute to the development of Council’s Disability Action Plan.
Ararat Rural City Council Chief Executive Officer Dr Tim Harrison said the new page demonstrates the value of community feedback in helping Council improve the way it communicates. “Our community identified that there was an opportunity for Council to better communicate disability information through our website,” Dr Harrison said.
“We listened to that feedback and acted on it. The new disability page gives people a clearer place to find information, access local resources, and understand how they can contribute to Council’s work in this area. That is how we want our website to operate. It should be a practical, current resource that responds to the needs of the people using it.”
Council has also recently introduced an Environment Hub, providing a central place for community members to access environmental information, documents, initiatives, and resources.
The Filming in Ararat page has also been refreshed to better support productions considering the municipality as a location. The update includes frequently asked questions, clearer information about permits and approvals, and expanded image libraries showcasing potential filming locations across Ararat Rural City.
Council continues to refresh its tourism content, helping visitors access current information about the region’s attractions, events, places to stay, and experiences.
Dr Harrison said Council welcomed community ideas about other information, services, and resources that could be improved or added to the website. “Our website should continue to grow with the community,” he said. “If there is information you need, a service you would like explained more clearly, or a resource you think would be useful, we encourage you to let us know.
Community members are encouraged to visit Council’s website, explore the updated pages, and provide feedback through the website’s page-rating and comments functions, or by contacting Council directly.
