In a significant economic upturn for Rockhampton, local businesses are reaping the rewards of a $104.8 million investment stimulated by the Rockhampton Regional Council’s Local Buy Policy.
Rockhampton Local Buy Policy
The policy, designed to bolster the procurement of local goods and services across various Council projects, has provided substantial economic benefits to over 800 businesses in the region, spanning catering suppliers to electrical and civil construction entities.
Rockhampton Mayor, Tony Williams, emphasised the Council’s steadfast commitment to supporting local businesses, ensuring widespread economic advantages resulting from its projects and procurement endeavours.
Mayor Williams highlighted that an overwhelming majority of the Council’s $140 million expenditure was directed toward businesses and services operating within the Rockhampton Region.
The 2022-23 Spend Analysis highlights impressive results:
- 73% of spending occurred within the Rockhampton region, excluding specialized significant projects.
- 97% of total spending across plant and equipment hire, trade services, and roadmaking materials took place within the region.
- Over $20 million was spent on locally supplied materials and operators.
Mayor Williams emphasised that these results solidify Rockhampton Regional Council’s position as a Small Business Friendly Council, underlining their dedication to supporting local businesses.
He encouraged local businesses to familiarise themselves with the Council’s local procurement policies and processes, particularly the Local Preference Policy.
Rockhampton Regional Council’s Local Preference Policy provides clear directives to boost the local economy, offering local businesses a 12% weighting for goods and services under $1 million and a minimum 5% weighting for those exceeding $1 million.
For projects over $150,000, tenderers nominating local suppliers and sub-contractors for goods and services receive a weighting of 10%.
Council’s website provides comprehensive information on the Local Buy Policy, including the Local Preference Policy, to guide interested businesses.
Tender opportunities are regularly listed for those seeking to supply goods or services to Rockhampton Regional Council.
For more information and to explore opportunities, visit the Council’s website.
About Council’s Local Preference Policy:
The council’s longstanding Local Preference Policy benefits the Region’s economy by providing clear direction to buy local and support the local economy. The policy gives local businesses a 12% weighting for goods and services under $1 million and a minimum 5% weighting for greater than $1 million.
For projects over $150,000, tenderers who nominate local suppliers and sub-contractors for goods and services for use in the project to a minimum value of 50% of the tendered sum also receive a weighting of 10%.
The policy is available on the Council’s website here.
