Adelaide City Council has become the first capital city council in Australia to use a web-based chat function to communicate with the public in real-time.

Launched today, the CityChat function is similar to instant messaging. The new service allows residents, business, visitors and tourists to communicate with the council’s customer service centre.

According to Council, the service will be particularly useful for people who do not speak English as a first language, those with a hearing impairment, the elderly and less mobile.

Lord Mayor Michael Harbison said the new messaging system added a “modern yet personal touch” to communication strategies.

“Anything we can improve to help residents and visitors get information quickly is a great bonus for the City, and I am especially glad that this service will be valuable to so many members of our community,” he said in a statement.

“For some people it can be easier to write rather than talk and this service adds the irreplaceable feeling of interacting with a real person, which sets it apart from sending an email.”

The CityChat function is available on the Council website and operates during normal customer service centre opening hours, from 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday.