SWDC has launched a newly refreshed and rejuvenated website. This new portal is the result of a project to move to a more modern, mobile-friendly, accessible and easy to use platform. The old website was nearly ten years old, quite inflexible and difficult to read on a mobile phone.

With the help of an intuitive search function and improved structure and navigation, residents will be able to navigate to the information they need with greater ease.

Key new tools include the ability to make online payments, book meetings with the planning and building teams, and sign-up for news and meeting email alerts.

SWDC’s Communications Team in partnership with web developer Thinkbox tested and refined the design with users to make sure it is both intuitive and user friendly.

Mayor Alex Beijen says, “this is a great modern progression and improvement for SWDC from our previous site”.

“The new functionality allowing people to pay for services online without having to phone or visit the Council is something that has been asked by many residents, and we are excited to be able to offer this service to make things easier for everyone.”

SWDC’s Communications Manager Amy Wharram says the website provides the perfect portal for people to access information with greater ease than ever before.

“Our old website was independently ranked at the bottom of the country’s top ten local government websites, and we wanted to take our site to a new level.

“SWDC’s new website is an important channel when interacting and communicating with people in our community and it’s vital that we keep up to speed with their growing expectations in this dynamic digital age.”

Local Developer Sam Cooke of Thinkbox, who created the site, says the project’s intention is to improve access to information, be more visually appealing and far easier to use including being mobile friendly.

“It is also to create a platform where we can continually improve the site both by refining what we have and adding new features to better meet the needs of our community. We think the new website is modern, fresh and usable, but we’d love the public’s feedback.”

This is just the first phase: we are planning to develop the content further to better meet the needs of our community.

Please visit the website and have a look around – if you have any feedback, we’d love to hear from you via email. Send your feedback to: comms@swdc.govt.nz

Media contact
Jorja Bramley
027 2488 402
comms4@swdc.govt.nz