Local governments across Australia face the new reality of balancing rapid urban growth with the urgent need for environmental responsibility.
With populations rising, infrastructure ageing, and climate impacts intensifying, councils must manage growth sustainably to protect community wellbeing and secure long-term viability.
The growing sustainability challenge facing local governments
According to the Australian Local Government CEO Index 2024, nearly two-thirds (65%) of councils have reported direct impacts from natural disasters over the past two years. Only 9% say they have avoided natural disasters, and less than half say they are very prepared (10%) or prepared (30%) to meet future ESG obligations.
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport, meanwhile, released an interim report in February 2025 that found there was a general agreement across most LGAs that mitigating the effects of climate-related disasters was both essential and significantly expensive.
That report found the average annual cost of natural disasters is expected to increase to as much as $300 million by 2050. But that’s just an average: the 2022 flood events in NSW, for example, caused over $5.1 billion in insured damages.
Floods, bushfires, and extreme weather events continue to significantly strain council resources, creating major financial burdens and complicating the delivery of essential services.
Simultaneously, councils face rising community expectations. Residents now expect proactive environmental management, climate resilience, and greener urban spaces. Yet, many local governments struggle to fund even basic maintenance, let alone ambitious sustainability projects, due to outdated funding models and constrained budgets.
This funding shortfall severely restricts councils’ ability to invest in sustainable infrastructure or modernise operations, ultimately placing community wellbeing and future prosperity at risk.
Smarter asset management: a key pathway to sustainability
Technology is playing an increasingly vital role in helping councils manage their environmental responsibilities effectively, and asset management in particular sits at the heart of councils’ sustainability efforts.
Infrastructure such as roads, buildings, and public facilities represent significant financial investments and have substantial environmental footprints. However, traditional asset management often involves reactive maintenance strategies, which can be costly and environmentally unsustainable.
Modern asset management software helps councils shift towards proactive, predictive maintenance, significantly improving sustainability outcomes. These systems provide comprehensive visibility into the condition, performance, and lifecycle of assets, enabling councils to forecast maintenance needs, optimise resource allocation, and reduce environmental impacts.
By proactively managing their infrastructure, councils can reduce waste, lower emissions, and ensure assets remain sustainable and functional over the long term.
Making technology work for sustainability
Digital transformation provides the tools and data required to embed sustainability in every aspect of council operations – not just asset management.
Newcastle City Council, for example, saved approximately 12 tonnes of paper per year just by switching to TechnologyOne’s Employee Self Service solution and automating its accounts payable.
Similarly, the City of Kalamunda used digital tools to enhance sustainability reporting, energy efficiency, and operational performance, showcasing that investing in technology can align environmental and financial sustainability.
Technology solutions help councils meet community expectations by delivering real-time insights that inform smarter, greener decisions across operations, making environmental responsibility practical and achievable.
Choose the right technology partner for sustainable growth
Partnering with the right technology provider is crucial for councils to realise their full sustainability potential. Councils should seek partners who understand their specific operational and regulatory environment, offer scalable solutions, and can seamlessly integrate with existing systems.
An ideal technology partner should offer:
- Proven industry expertise in local government operations;
- Solutions that seamlessly integrate with existing infrastructure;
- Scalable platforms to meet evolving council needs;
- Compliance with rigorous data security and environmental standards.
Software as a Service (SaaS) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is particularly beneficial in this context. SaaS ERP solutions deliver continuous updates, scalability, and enhanced security, enabling councils to adapt quickly to changing sustainability regulations and community expectations without the significant upfront costs or complexity associated with traditional IT deployments.
TechnologyOne: empowering sustainable local governments
TechnologyOne’s OneCouncil solution provides local governments with a powerful integrated platform designed to address sustainability challenges, balance financial constraints, and support responsible urban growth.
Specifically developed for local governments, OneCouncil provides real-time data insights, enabling informed decision-making around asset and infrastructure management, financial sustainability, and environmental planning.
Nearly 300 councils across Australia and New Zealand already trust TechnologyOne to deliver streamlined operations, sustainable infrastructure management, and improved service delivery. With OneCouncil, councils can strategically manage assets, reduce their environmental impact, and build resilient communities capable of thriving now and in the future.
