Draft Procurement, Investment and Borrowing Policies

Council’s Procurement Policy, Investment Policy and Borrowing Policy have been reviewed and updated to ensure they remain current, fit for purpose and aligned with Council’s financial governance responsibilities.

Draft Procurement Policy - establishes the principles and controls for Council’s purchasing, tendering, contract management and disposal activities.

Following the release of new procurement guidelines by the Office of Local Government (OLG), key updates included in the draft Policy are:

• a commitment to take reasonable steps to identify, assess and manage modern-slavery risks throughout the procurement lifecycle;
• annual modern-slavery reporting and submission requirements;
• requirements for the management and publication of Council’s government contracts register, including the 45-working-day timeframe for Class 1 contracts;
• a risk-based framework for digital and ICT procurement, including cyber security, privacy, data sovereignty, supplier capability, artificial intelligence, business continuity and data exit requirements; and
• updated procurement governance and recordkeeping controls.

Draft Investment Policy - provides clear investment governance, risk limits, reporting requirements and consideration of environmental, social and governance factors consistent with Council’s legislative obligations and risk appetite.

The Policy has been updated to strengthen governance and align with current best practice. Key amendments include:

• new provisions for safe custody arrangements;
• legal ownership of investments;
• the use of appropriately licensed third-party investment dealers;
• compliance with Australian Accounting Standards for investment reporting;
• introduces guidance on considering socially responsible (Environmental, Social, Governance) investment options where these are consistent with legislative requirements and do not compromise Council's primary objectives of capital preservation, liquidity and prudent returns.

Draft Borrowing Policy - establishes the principles and governance framework for Council's use of debt to ensure borrowings are financially sustainable, comply with legislative requirements and support the long-term financial objectives of the organisation. It does not have any immediate financial or resource implications.

The Policy outlines

• the criteria for assessing new borrowings, including alignment with Council's community strategic plan, long-term financial plan, asset management plans and key financial sustainability indicators;
• sets requirements for loan terms, borrowing limits, approval processes, lender selection, internal borrowing arrangements and ongoing monitoring to ensure Council maintains a prudent and affordable level of debt while meeting its statutory obligations.

We invite you to have your say on the Draft Policies using the feedback form below.

Submissions close at 5 pm on Thursday, 24 September 2026

Important information regarding your submission

Written submissions may be attached to the public report that is submitted to Council unless you explicitly request you do not wish this to occur. They are subject to the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 and the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act (PIPPA).