DOING BUSINESS WITH COUNCIL.
There is a lot for Townsville businesses to be optimistic about. The city has established itself as a key hub for Northern Australia and is poised to expand across major industries like hydrogen production and tourism. Mayor Jenny Hill says it wasn’t hard to remember how the city felt just a few years ago following the Queensland Nickel refinery closure, which created a gaping hole in local industry and left many families without income. “The difference between now and then is stark. In the five years that have passed our city has rolled with the punches of the 2019 monsoon and the pandemic, all while embracing a changing skyline, she says. “But the skyline hasn’t been the only thing changing – confidence in our city is skyrocketing. “Our population is expected to pass 200,000 in the next 12 months and the city is also proud to boast an unemployment rate that is now lower than the state average, with the trades, healthcare, and hospitality sectors at the top end of local growth.
“Council has signed an agreement to make the city a leader in hydrogen production and export in Australia. This is a strong step towards securing more green jobs for the region and providing another economic stimulus for North Queensland.”
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Cr Hill says supporting local businesses was a priority for Council, with an organisational goal to reach 90 per cent procurement spend with local businesses in the next five years. “Last financial year, Council’s total expenditure through procurement reached almost $270 million, and around 85 per cent of that was with local businesses,” she says. “As a recent signee of the Small Business Friendly Council charter, Council is committed to continuing its support of local businesses, with a goal of reaching 90 per cent procurement spend with local businesses in the next five years. “In order to achieve this goal, Council is making it easier for local to do business with us with the launch of our new tendering system VendorPanel. “VendorPanel will be the platform used by businesses to submit tenders and quotes for upcoming projects, respond to queries and provide updates to registered suppliers. “It will make the tendering process even more streamlined and easy to access for our local businesses, ensuring we can reach our procurement targets and continue supporting the local economy. “It also allows our registered suppliers access to tenders for neighbouring councils and upcoming State and Federal agency panels ensuring that they have the opportunity to secure work across the region.” Cr Hill says Council was also running face-to-face sessions with local businesses to learn how to become a supplier for Council.
