From Monday, June 23 Ōamaru Public Library and Service Centre will become the place for in-person rates, as well as council registrations and application inquiries.
Waitaki District Council’s Thames St HQ will still be open for viewing property files, meetings with officers and attending public meetings and workshops.
"By relocating our customer liaison team to the Public Library and Service Centre, the community now has an in-person service desk open six days a week, with longer opening times than those we provided at the HQ," WDC customer engagement and experience director Lisa Baillie said.
"We’re providing more time on more days for people to speak face-to-face with someone at the council by using what we’ve already got sensibly."
WDC also recently launched an entire one-stop shop of digital forms, meaning the community can apply for everything from alcohol licences to water connections online, without having to print off and bring or send in a paper copy.
Chief executive Alex Parmley said the move was about making the council leaner and more cost-effective, while improving access and its level of customer service.
"Our digital upgrades mean people can apply for consents, rates rebates and more from their couch — saving them time and money.
"Our customer service desk at the library offers access six days a week to our services for residents, without increasing the cost to ratepayers."
— APL
