When you spend local, everyone wins

Published on 02 November 2026

Did you know there are more than 12,000 GST-registered businesses in the City of Onkaparinga, supporting more than 51,000 local jobs?

If you’re looking to buy a product or service, chances are you can find it locally – and there are heaps of benefits to doing so.

Every dollar you spend with a local business helps keep money circulating in the region, with businesses reinvesting money back into local, suppliers, sponsorships and services.

The City of Onkaparinga encourages people to support local businesses through its Go South Go Local initiative, acknowledging that you can help make a difference, one local choice at a time.

With a challenging economy, it’s a call to action for households and consumers to prioritise local businesses that support investment and jobs in their communities.

The website has plenty of information on how you can support local, whether you’re a local resident, you run a business, or if you’re a visitor.

There’s even a local business directory that’s growing by the week – and a Shoppers Quarterly newsletter – to help you find what you’re looking for down south.

The council is also walking the talk when it comes to spending locally, and new data demonstrates the benefits flow to the community.

Local supplier focus

New City of Onkaparinga data shows that over the past 5 years, almost 40 per cent of the businesses the council has spent with – on everything from asphalt to bark chips, to stationery – have been locally based in the council region.

That’s tens-of-millions of dollars invested back into the local economy annually, and it’s more than double the percentage of local businesses the council was spending with five years earlier, highlighting the benefits of the council’s revamped procurement policies and procedures.

City of Onkaparinga Business Growth and Investment Officer, Glenn Hickling, says the council’s 40 per cent local procurement figure is also driving business investment.

“It’s not always possible to spend locally because some products and services simply aren’t available close by, such as when major civil or construction project tenders are won by Adelaide or interstate firms,” he says.

“But in some instances, the council’s significant annual local procurement has managed to attract businesses to set up shop in Onkaparinga.

“By using local businesses wherever possible, we’re helping keep the local economy strong and supporting local jobs.”

On home turf

Lonsdale-based Belair Turf Management (BTM) is a prime example of a local business that’s successfully bid for a range of City of Onkaparinga jobs.

General Manager Zac Burton says securing long-term council work has played an important role in the business’s growth and development.

“For us, securing council work is about much more than winning a tender,” Zac says.

“We see ourselves as a long-term service partner. We invest time in understanding each council’s expectations, communicating openly with contract managers and facility stakeholders, and working collaboratively to solve problems as they arise.

“Maintaining these relationships and performing consistently has allowed us to retain existing contracts, secure additional works and continue expanding the services we provide to local government.”

Like the council, Zac says BTM also prefers using local suppliers and subcontractors whenever possible.

“Supporting local suppliers helps keep investment within the local economy, supports employment and strengthens the network of businesses that service councils and the wider community,” he explains.

“It also provides practical benefits to our operations, including stronger supplier relationships, faster access to materials and equipment, and having people nearby who understand our business and can respond quickly when we need support.

Pictured

The team at Belair Turf Management hard at work in Onkaparinga.