Southland District Council has expanded its community facilities maintenance contracts from 16 to 22, opening the door to more local contractors across the district.
The new contracts were awarded after a registration of interest process last year drew 49 tenders. Evaluations ran through February, with further negotiations on scope and pricing through March and April before final awards were made.
Council community facilities manager Mark Day said the structure was deliberate. "We deliberately structured these contracts to enable local contractors to participate and it's great to see strong interest from across the district," Day said. "This approach not only supports local businesses but also ensures the people carrying out the work have a strong connection to the communities they're working in."
The contracts cover routine maintenance of public spaces — keeping them clean, tidy, and presentable. More contract areas should mean faster response times and clearer accountability.
Cost was unavoidable. The contracts hadn't been refreshed in at least seven years. "These contracts haven't been refreshed for at least seven years, so naturally we're seeing cost increases," Day said. "We also recognise the effort contractors have put in to keep pricing as competitive as possible in a challenging environment."
What community boards and residents made clear throughout the process was that town centres needed to look the part. That was the non-negotiable. "There is always a balance between what it costs to deliver the work and the level of service our communities expect," Day said. "What we have heard very clearly from community boards and residents is that the centres of our towns and villages must look sharp – that's the number one priority."
Day said the work, unglamorous as it is, matters. "These contracts are about the day-to-day things that really matter, the look and feel of our public spaces," he said. "It's important work, and we're pleased to be working with contractors who take pride in maintaining the places our communities use and value."