Council
21 November, 2025
Council adopts procurement policy
MOYNE Shire Council has adopted its new Procurement Policy 2025-2029, setting a clear framework for how council purchases goods, services and works over the next four years.
The updated policy ensures council’s approach to procurement is contemporary, transparent, and aligned with best practice across the local government sector.
It has been developed in partnership with the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and a working group of metropolitan and regional councils to ensure consistency and compliance with the Local Government Act 2020 and Best Practice Guidelines 2024.
Mayor Cr Karen Foster said the new policy balances accountability with flexibility to achieve strong community outcomes.
“Our procurement processes need to do more than just ensure compliance, they should deliver genuine value for money, support local businesses and ensure we are operating transparently,” Cr Foster said.
“This updated policy gives us the right tools to do that. It embeds fairness, sustainability and efficiency in how we spend ratepayer funds and provides stronger guidance for staff and suppliers alike.”
The new policy simplifies structure by clearly distinguishing between core policy principles and operational procedures, making it easier for officers and suppliers to understand and apply.
Key improvements include clearer guidance on ethical and compliant use of panel contracts and collaborative procurement arrangements; a single, consistent set of procurement thresholds, aligned with comparable councils and a stronger focus on the Quadruple Bottom Line.
This ensures procurement decisions consider economic, environmental, social and ethical governance factors.
Other key improvements include procedural fairness reinforced through explicit rules on late tenders and contract negotiations and enhanced risk management to protect council from financial, legal and reputational exposure.
The policy supports Council Plan priorities to increase transparency, optimise operations and deliver financially sustainable services.
“This policy reflects how council wants to work; openly, responsibly and in a way that strengthens confidence in our decisions,” Cr Foster said.
Council officers will now finalise accompanying procurement guidelines and panel procedures to support day-to-day implementation of the new framework.
