Reliable up-to-date single source of emergency information for the community
Provides live updates from across several emergency channels
Accessible on any device
Testimonial
Symphony3 transformed how we communicate during emergencies. Our residents previously had to check multiple sites and channels for updates; now everything is in one central, easy-to-use dashboard. The solution is live, accurate, accessible, and fully configurable by our emergency team, without relying on comms or external vendors. It’s a cost-effective, reliable and modern tool that gives us complete control of our emergency information. We’re extremely happy with the result and would recommend Symphony3 to any council looking to improve their emergency communications.
- Evan Jardine - Coordinator IT Web & Analytics, City of Greater Bendigo
Background
The City of Greater Bendigo sits in central Victoria, approximately 150 kilometres north of Melbourne, with a population of around 120,000 people. Known for its rich gold rush history from the 1850s, the city is home to stunning Victorian era architecture and ornate buildings.
City of Greater Bendigo engaged Symphony3 to deliver a centralised Emergency Dashboard integrated into the council's existing website, drawing live information from critical sources into one place and empowering the emergency team to manage and update content directly.
The Digital Challenge
When emergencies strike, timely and accurate information saves lives. For Bendigo residents, that information was scattered. The CFA website, traffic alerts, social media feeds and emergency services each held a piece of the picture, but no single place brought it together. Council staff managing emergency communications had to coordinate across multiple systems and teams to push updates out, slowing response at the moments that mattered most.
The Vision
Bendigo residents deserve clear, reliable information when it matters most. Residents want to have one place to go, with live information they can trust. One platform delivers accurate, accessible emergency information to the entire community, the moment it is needed, available on any device.
The Importance
Emergencies are unpredictable. The information councils provide in those moments directly affects the safety of their communities. When residents have to search across multiple websites, social media channels and emergency services to piece together a picture of what is happening, critical time is lost.
Every council has a duty to keep its community informed. A centralised, accessible and real-time emergency dashboard is no longer a nice to have, it is an essential part of modern council services. Bendigo has led the way with councils such as Mildura, Ararat, Central goldfields and more already following. The capability is ready to deploy for any fast and easily adjustable to suit any council website.
Solution
Symphony3 built a reusable Emergency Dashboard content type within the council's existing Drupal website, giving the emergency team full control to publish and update critical information without technical assistance.
- An interactive Leaflet map pulling live data from public APIs including Emergency Vic, VicTraffic and more.
- Mobile-ready and accessible, reaching every resident, on any device.
- Live fire danger ratings drawn directly from the CFA feeds.
- Social media feed integration bringing council updates on social media into one view.
- Edit buttons on every tile, allowing the emergency team to update content quickly without navigating away from the page.
- Fits into existing council websites and systems and draws on open data that is available from State Government.
Transformative Results
- Residents have one trusted place to go during an emergency instead of searching across multiple sources.
- Information is live and updates in real time as conditions change.
- Accessible on any device.
- The emergency team publishes and updates content directly to website.
The Symphony3 Difference
Symphony3 delivers a cloud-based service combined with a human touch - we call it SWAS (Software with a Service). We work closely with our clients on every engagement and ensure you are supported once the solution goes live. It is an approach that is collaborative, and flexible, and ensures you get technical advice tailored to your organisation.