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A Keyless Future for Community Venues 

Sutherland Shire Council, Webster's Locksmiths & ICT

 

In the south of Sydney, the Sutherland Shire spans the sparkling beaches of Cronulla, to the awe-inspiring humpback whales of Kamay Botany Bay National Park, and the beauty of the bush at Bungoona. Spread across this large and varied area, the Sutherland Shire Council manages 34 community venues.

For years, they relied on a manual key system that was inefficient and frustrating for staff and residents. Partnering with local integrator Webster's Locksmiths, the council implemented a modern access control solution from ICT.

This strategic partnership and a unified security platform helped Sutherland Shire Council move from an outdated key system, making venue access simpler, safer, and more efficient for everyone. This shift has not only streamlined operations but also significantly improved the experience for the entire community.

Before:
  • A wall of keys for 34 separate venues
  • Up to 30 manual key pickups per day
  • Residents driving long distances for keys
  • Inefficient, time-consuming manual processes
  • $100 cash bonds required for key security
After:
  • Fully automated, keyless access system
  • Seamless integration with online booking software
  • Remote access control and monitoring
  • Venue usage has doubled at some sites
  • No more physical keys or security bonds needed
location pin icon
Sydney, Australia

Location

Government

Industry

34

Buildings

Nutech Security Logo
Webster's Locksmiths

Integrator

Some of our facilities have almost doubled in usage because we’ve switched from a key to a keyless system.

 - Ryan Blouin, Community Venues Team Leader at Sutherland Shire Council

Some of our facilities have almost doubled in usage because we’ve switched from a key to a keyless system.

 - Ryan Blouin, Community Venues Team Leader at Sutherland Shire Council

The Story

Managing access to community venues had become a major operational headache for Sutherland Shire Council. The system was entirely manual, revolving around a physical collection of keys which created significant bottlenecks. Ryan Blouin, the Community Venues Team Leader at Sutherland Shire Council, explains the daily struggle. "We would do random key drop-offs and pickups throughout the week. Anything from about 30 key pickups a day, which was just absolutely crazy."

Andrew Webster, owner of Webster's Locksmiths, recalls the scene, "Their system prior to this was a room that was three by three meters, with a wall of keys. There was one lady who knew which rack of keys was for each site."

The problem was made worse by the sheer size of the shire. Residents sometimes had to make long trips just to get a key. "We used to have people drive from some of our more remote communities all the way into council to pick up a key to go back to their location to use the key and then drop it off again afterwards," says Blouin. This convoluted process cost time and created a poor experience for the community.

A unified digital approach

To solve these deep-rooted issues, Webster's Locksmiths proposed a unified solution centered around ICT’s Protege GX. The goal was to create a keyless system that integrated directly with the council's online booking software, Bookable. Webster explains the new process, "We’ve digitized all their community venues, integrating booking systems with access control. Now, users can book online, get a PIN, and access the venue without needing physical keys."

For residents, the experience is now completely seamless. "For our customers, it’s a completely online experience," Blouin notes. "They book, pay their invoice, and get a code linked to the Protege system, which we can monitor and control remotely. The venue self-locks itself at the end, and happy days."

The installation included compatible keypads, to ensure the new hardware worked flawlessly with the council's existing infrastructure. Moves to a digital platform not only simplified access, but also gave the council valuable auditing and reporting tools to better manage their facilities.

Partnership and learning

Transitioning an entire network of public venues from a physical key system to a digital one required a true partnership. Webster's Locksmiths, with their decades-long experience, were the perfect guides for this journey as they built their relationship with the council.

The process involved some learning and adaptation, especially when initial trials threw up complexities. By listening to feedback and working closely with the council, the team at Websters pivoted to a PIN-based system that was simpler and more intuitive for everyone.

The refined solution has been a resounding success. Blouin highlights how it empowers his team: "Our operations team can enter anytime without having to run to our depot to pick up keys." The automation has been a game-changer, allowing for last-minute bookings and providing a level of flexibility that was impossible before.

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Products & Services

Protege GX

Protege GX

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PRT-KLCS

Protege Touch Sense LCD Keypads

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Integrated Alarm

Integrated
Alarms

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Booking System

Booking System
Integration

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Building Automation

Automation

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The Outcome

The results of implementing the ICT solution speak for themselves. The move to a keyless system has dramatically improved efficiency and user satisfaction across the board. "This has saved them so much time and hassle," Webster states. "They can now manage everything online, and it’s a lot more efficient."

More bookings, happier residents

The improved convenience has directly led to an increase in venue usage. "Some of our facilities have almost doubled in usage because we’ve switched from a key to a keyless system," Blouin reports. The positive community feedback has been a powerful driver of this growth. "There’s a lot of community recognition of, ‘I don’t have to collect keys, that’s amazing.’ And as word-of-mouth spreads, we’re seeing our bookings go up."
 
The new system also provides peace of mind. "We have customers who forget things in venues, now they don’t have to come back to the council service center again," says Blouin. "They just give us a call, and we can remotely give them access."

A vision for success

The success at Sutherland Shire Council has created a model that is already being replicated by other local authorities. Within Sutherland Shire, the focus is on how to expand this success. Blouin has a clear vision: "We’re standardizing how we operate. For some of our newer facilities, we’re pushing to have these integrations in play from the start."
 
The partnership has built a foundation for future growth and innovation, helping the council provide better services and secure its success for years to come. Summing up the project's impact, Blouin concludes, "When we look at how many bookings we’re putting through without any issues, that’s a massive success."

ICT has saved them so much time and hassle. They can now manage everything online, and it’s a lot more efficient.

 - Andrew Webster, Owner of Webster's Locksmiths

ICT has saved them so much time and hassle. They can now manage everything online, and it’s a lot more efficient.

 - Andrew Webster, Owner of Webster's Locksmiths

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Webster's Locksmiths

Webster’s Locksmiths are a Sydney locksmith business who have been providing exceptional service and reliable security for over 20 years. They maintain a high-street shopfront and are proud to serve the Sutherland Shire community. As certified Protege GX installers and proud ICT partners, they have expertise in access control, electronic security, CCTV, alarms, and a range of services for customers in the government, commercial, strata, and other industries.

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