Council announces major $122.8 million injection into local economy

Published on 14 December 2022

This week Rockhampton Regional Council released its Annual Goods and Services Spend Analysis, revealing that a huge 74% of its expenditure over the last 12 months has been spent locally.

The report, which was presented at yesterday’s Council meeting, shows that of the $165.5 million spent by Council in total, $122.8 million has been spent within the Rockhampton Region.

Rockhampton Region Mayor Tony Williams said he was excited to share these results at Council meeting and with the community.

“I am really proud of these results and the ability for Rockhampton Regional Council to continue spending local,” Mayor Williams said.

“Where we can, we try to spend local, whether that be spending for large-scale projects or smaller-scale projects.

“We do our best to spend locally by purchasing local products and engaging local contractors.

“I am very pleased to see such a large percentage of our expenditure going directly to local businesses and our local economy.

“Our Plant Hire, Trade Services and Roadmaking Materials spend has once again been a highlight of the report with 96% of the total spend for this area being local.

“Out of $19 million, $18.2 million went to locally supplied materials and local operators.

“As well as the 74% local spend, an additional $3 million was spent with businesses established within CQ – including Banana, Gladstone, Livingstone, Woorabinda and Central Highlands.

“These figures demonstrate Councils continued commitment to supporting our Region’s economy, local businesses and community as a whole.

“Local spend and strengthening our economy is something we take very seriously and for that reason we have the Local Preference Policy in place that helps guide decisions in this space.

“There are times when products or services aren’t available locally, and in those times we have to source from outside our region, but this strategy helps to ensure that vast majority of money spent, is spent right here in our Region.

“In the times that we can’t spend directly in the Region, we will then try to spend with businesses in the Central Queensland area.

“We hope to continue this trend of local spending in the next twelve months, working hard to increase this percentage and reinvigorate our Region.”

Looking to supply goods or services to Council?

A local suppliers and contractors guide is available on Council’s website and provides a range of information to assist anyone who wishes to supply goods or service to Rockhampton Regional Council. Tender opportunities are also listed regularly. For more information head to: https://www.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/ForBusiness/Tenders-and-Contracts/Suppliers-Guide.

About Council’s Local Preference Policy:

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 business a 12 per cent weighting for goods and services under $1 million and a minimum 5 per cent 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 per cent.

The policy is available on Council’s website here: rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/About-Council/Policies-Procedures/Procurement.