Shire of Merredin

As one of our longest-standing CouncilConnect clients, the Shire of Merredin engaged Market Creations Agency in 2026 to refresh its website and create a digital presence that better reflected the community's progressive vision and regional identity. Guided by the Shire's tagline, "Innovating the Wheatbelt", the project delivered a vibrant, contemporary online experience with improved accessibility, navigation and user engagement, making it easier for residents, visitors and businesses to connect with the Shire online.

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Client Name
Shire of Merredin

Website
www.merredin.wa.gov.au/

Year
2026

Category
Website Design,

A Design Inspired by the Merredin Brand

Drawing inspiration from the Shire's abstract windmill logo, the refreshed website introduces a bold and vibrant visual identity that feels distinctly Merredin. Bright blues, accessible colour combinations and geometric design elements create a modern and engaging experience while maintaining strong usability across the site.

A striking homepage immediately captures attention, while clear content layouts make it easy for residents, visitors and businesses to find the information they need. The result is a contemporary website that reflects the Shire's community spirit and vision as "Innovating the Wheatbelt."

The Development

The new website combines a modern visual design with practical functionality that improves how residents, visitors and businesses access information online.

The homepage brings together key services and updates in a single, easy-to-navigate experience, featuring prominent alerts, a streamlined mega menu, integrated search functionality, weather and fire information, and quick access links to commonly used services.

Dynamic content modules showcase the latest news, public notices, community consultations and events, while dedicated sections for council meetings, newsletter subscriptions and social media feeds help keep the community informed and connected.

Together, these features create a contemporary digital hub that makes it easier for users to engage with the Shire and access the information they need.

New Features

Having been part of the CouncilConnect platform for more than a decade, the Shire already had access to a wide range of tools and functionality. However, as part of the refresh, a number of additional modules were introduced to further enhance the user experience.

One of the most significant additions was the Road Reports module, providing up-to-date information on road conditions throughout the region, including road closures, maintenance activities and construction works. This feature delivers valuable information for residents and travellers who rely on current road access updates.

The Shire also implemented the Facilities Booking Manager, enabling community members to search, view availability and book Shire facilities directly through the website, reducing administrative workloads while improving convenience for users.

Getting More Value from the Homepage

One of the standout achievements of the project is the amount of information the homepage can communicate without feeling overwhelming.

Rather than requiring users to navigate through multiple pages to discover important information, the website uses a combination of smart design and dynamic content modules to surface key updates directly on the homepage.

Expandable quick links maximise available screen space while maintaining a clean layout. The dynamic "What's On" section brings multiple content streams together within a single area, allowing visitors to switch between information types without increasing page length. Similarly, the social media integration provides a live snapshot of community activity while enabling users to toggle between Facebook and Instagram within the same area.

The result is a homepage that remains clean, organised and easy to navigate while delivering significantly more information to users at a glance.

The Outcome

The Shire of Merredin's refreshed website successfully transformed the organisation's digital presence, delivering a modern platform that reflects the community's progressive vision and commitment to innovation.

Through bold branding, streamlined navigation and a range of dynamic content features, the new website makes it easier for residents and visitors to access information, stay informed and engage with the Shire online.

Most importantly, the project demonstrates how thoughtful design and strategic functionality can work together to create a website that not only looks great but genuinely improves the user experience. The result is a modern digital hub that brings the Shire's "Innovating the Wheatbelt" vision to life and provides a strong foundation for future digital engagement.