Queensland Local Content Leaders Network {QLCLN}
Posted on October 11th, 2017
Supporting Business Development and Conditions
As a pro-active Member of the QLCLN via its Economic Development Unit, Capricorn Enterprise actively pursues improved business conditions and platforms in areas such as local content, developing industry capability, improved business trading terms plus notifying regional businesses of emerging project tenders and work packages.
The Queensland Local Content Leaders Network is a voluntary collaborative between industry and local government economic practitioners to work in partnership playing a pivotal role in advocating to maximise local content outcomes to achieve economic prosperity for regions.
The members of the QLCLN unanimously support the definition of local content as the full, fair and reasonable economic contribution made to the local communities by industry investment in local goods and services, employment and training, social and community development initiatives and local industry capability development programs.
Industry Engagement: The August 30th Capricornia Major Projects Forum, jointly hosted by Capricorn Enterprise and AusIndustry generated business interest from the immediate Central Queensland Region plus State and National industry registrations with in excess of 100 (venue capacity) attending the Forum.
Of particular interest to businesses was the Carmichael Mine, Rail and Port Developments (the Adani Project) plus the proposed ADF Shoalwater Bay Military Training Area (SWBMTA) $140M Refurbishment Project.
Since the August 30th Industry Forum “a lot of water has flowed under the bridge” with progressive Adani announcements (re Rail and Port works plus FIFO decisions) and announcements by the ADF of the selection of five preferred Contractors to manage the SWBMTA Refurbishment Contract.
These announcements have generated extensive local, regional and state wide interest with Capricorn Enterprise taking a lead role in referring local businesses to specific works packages and contractor details.
Capricorn Enterprise urges all local businesses that are interested in upcoming major regional works – inclusive of the Adani and Defence Projects – to register their capability either with Regional Development (Candice Fraser – Project Officer – email: projects@rdafcw.com.au) or direct with Economic Development Manager, Neil Lethlean. (Email: neillethlean@capricornenterprise.com.au).
Representations for Fairer Trading Terms: Seven members of the QLCLN have joined forces to lobby the major mining houses to achieve a more fairer business platform in respect to trading terms – with the current extended 60 day settlement policy of many mining houses adversely impacting on region suppliers and contractors. Extended trading terms are requiring many local traders to seek short term bridging finance to maintain business activity – at significant cost!
Interestingly many of the Western Australia mining conglomerates are working closely with resource based companies to improve working relationships with program’s like the local buy program plus reducing account settlements to as low as 14 days!
