With support from the LGP Capability Grant FY25, Gwydir Shire Council (GSC) has taken a significant step toward strengthening procurement governance through the successful delivery of an independent Procurement Service Review.
The project set out to assess Gwydir Shire Council’s procurement maturity, identify practical opportunities for improvement, and provide a clear roadmap for moving procurement from a primarily administrative function to a more strategic one. The review delivered a thorough, evidence-based assessment of GSC's procurement model, supported by specialist expertise that would otherwise have been difficult for a rural council to resource internally.
The outcomes and anticipated benefits demonstrate how targeted investment in capability building can deliver meaningful, organisation-wide improvements in governance, efficiency, and value for money.
Why a Review Was Needed
The Procurement Service Review was initiated following findings from Gwydir Shire Council’s internal Stores Service Review, which identified fragmented procurement practices, inconsistent stock purchasing approaches, and limited coordination between procurement, stores, and fleet management.
The review highlighted that procurement activities were occurring in departmental silos, with limited oversight, inconsistent processes, and minimal organisation-wide analysis of supplier spend or procurement risk. The Stores review specifically recommended that procurement undergo a dedicated service review to identify opportunities for improved governance, efficiency, and standardisation across GSC. Against a backdrop of increasing scrutiny on procurement practices within local government, GSC recognised the need to strengthen capability, compliance, and value for money outcomes.
An Independent, Evidence-Based Review
Through the support of the LGP Capability Grant, Gwydir Shire Council engaged Morrison Low Advisory to undertake an independent Procurement Service Review. The review combined a desktop assessment of procurement policies, procedures, contracts, and financial information with stakeholder interviews and benchmarking against comparable councils.
The assessment examined GSC's procurement model, governance arrangements, procurement capability, record keeping, tendering practices, and opportunities for greater strategic oversight. Critically, the grant enabled GSC to access specialist procurement expertise that would otherwise have been difficult to resource internally, particularly for a rural council with limited dedicated procurement capacity. The project also built on the foundations established through GSC's broader service review framework and continuous improvement program.
Early Outcomes and Shifts in Practice
The review has already proven highly valuable in identifying practical and achievable improvements to Gwydir Shire Council’s procurement maturity and governance. GSC now has a dedicated procurement resource with a clearer strategic focus, allowing greater time and attention to be directed toward procurement planning, supplier oversight, compliance, and organisation-wide coordination. This reinforces the opportunity to shift the procurement role from primarily administrative support to a more proactive and strategic function across the organisation.
Gwydir Shire Council also anticipates improved cost efficiencies through better aggregation of supplier spend, reduced duplication between departments, more consistent procurement practices, and stronger use of panel arrangements and competitive procurement processes. Early work has already commenced on improving procurement templates, reviewing processes, and strengthening collaboration between procurement, finance, and operational teams.
Anticipated Long-Term Benefits
The review provides a roadmap for enduring improvement across the organisation. Over the longer term, Gwydir Shire Council expects the initiative to deliver:
Over time, the review is anticipated to strengthen internal capability, reduce duplication across departments, and support a more strategic and sustainable procurement function that remains proportionate to the size and operational needs of a rural local government organisation.
Lasting Impact
The LGP Capability Grant has enabled Gwydir Shire Council to take a practical, well-evidenced step toward a more strategic procurement function.
By drawing on independent specialist expertise, GSC now has a clear understanding of its procurement maturity and a roadmap for sustained improvement in governance, efficiency, and value for money.
This initiative demonstrates the powerful role that LGP-supported capability building can play in helping rural councils strengthen procurement practices and lead with confidence and integrity.
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