West Daly Regional Council’s team recently attended the LGANT Procurement Symposium 2026 in Darwin, joining local government professionals from across the Northern Territory to share knowledge and explore practical approaches to procurement. Procurement is essential to effective service delivery, with procurement officers responsible for ensuring public funds are used fairly and transparently while creating genuine opportunities for local communities.

A highlight of the event was a presentation by Shoshana Deschamps, Council’s A/Governance Manager, who was invited as a guest presenter to share West Daly’s experience through a Local Buy case study. Shoshana provided valuable insights into using Local Buy in the context of a remote regional council and shared some of the practical considerations involved in procurement across our region.

The symposium covered key areas including procurement compliance, contract management, tender evaluations, probity and supplier engagement. It also provided an opportunity for Council staff to connect with industry peers, exchange ideas and explore ways to strengthen procurement practices.

For a regional council like West Daly, these discussions are particularly valuable in navigating procurement challenges and supporting the effective delivery of services across our communities. Council was pleased to contribute to the conversation and learn from the experiences of other councils across the Territory.

We extend our thanks to the LGANT team for organising the symposium and continuing to bring the local government sector together around important matters.