Buying local

The Mayor of Western Bay of Plenty, Garry Webber has been encouraging people to ‘Buy Local'. He thinks that given current circumstances, now more than ever was the time to support local people, businesses and suppliers.

Perhaps Mr Webber's Council could set a better example.

WBOPDC insists on having district-wide lump-sum contracts that only big overseas-owned companies like Downer, Veolia, Waste Management and Opus can handle.

These companies repatriate their profits to their off-shore headquarters. Most of their staff live in Tauranga. They spend their wages in Tauranga and pay their rates to Tauranga City Council.

There are plenty of locally-owned contractors in Western Bay more than capable of doing most of this work.

If Mr Webber is genuine about supporting local business he should have Council divide these district-wide contracts up so that smaller local companies can bid for them. He should also cancel Council's current plan for kerbside recycling in conjunction with TCC because this contract will almost certainly go to an overseas company at the expense of the small local companies currently involved in waste collection.

Keith Hay, secretary Katikati - Waihi Beach Residents and Ratepayers Association

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