WA DEAL COULD REAP $3M FOR ICON

GOLD Coast company ICON Software has extended its reach in the Australian market with Western Australian local councils poised to adopt its platform for online lodgements.

The joint-venture agreement with the Western Australia Local Government Association (WALGA) could be worth up to $3 million for ICON Software which has an extensive client base of local councils across Australia and New Zealand.

WALGA, which represents more than 150 local councils in Western Australia, has selected ICON Software to upgrade its existing CouncilsOnline platform that supports the electronic lodgement of building and planning applications within those local councils.

While the platform has handled more than 12,000 building and planning applications since it went live in 2012, WALGA had sought improvements to the system.

ICON Software, which is hoping to make a breakthrough in the US market, already has ties with three local councils in WA – at Swan, Gosnells and Victoria Park.

CEO Marie Phillips says ICON Software is targeting another 10 councils that currently use the CouncilsOnline platform following the agreement struck with WALGA.

She says the deal is potentially worth $3 million to ICON.

The move by WALGA is aimed at saving time and money through an upgrade of the online lodgement systems operated by the councils.

ICON Software was selected after winning an open tender for the job.

Phillips says ICON Software, and its LODGE solution, is a “natural partner” for WALGA.

“As the only supplier of an end-to-end e-planning solution in Australia, we look forward to delivering a cost-effective, scalable system that provides tangible benefits to councils, the community and the building industry,” she says.

WALGA chief executive Ricky Burges says the partnership came about after a review of CouncilsOnline saw a need to create a more seamless platform for users.

“We are confident that this partnership will improve the performance and user experience of the CouncilsOnline electronic lodgement system at the same time as reducing costs to local governments,” she says.