# Local Government Procurement Local Government Procurement (lgp.org.au), a government-linked website, faced significant challenges due to an overloaded plugin ecosystem and performance issue Local Government Procurement (lgp.org.au) helps local government across Australia buy what it needs. We made its website faster and safer, cut its plugins from 43 to 25, and gave the team tools to update it without technical help. --- Local Government Procurement runs procurement for local government across Australia. Its website is the central place where councils manage what they buy. It has to be open, work well and meet government standards. ## The challenge When we started, six things needed work: - **Too many plugins:** The site ran on about 43 plugins. They slowed it down, caused bugs and clashed with each other. - **Slow pages:** Bugs came up often and pages were slow to load. Both got in the way of users and of the team's daily work. - **Security needs:** LGP is linked to government, so it needed strong security. The site had to keep data safe and meet government rules. - **Hard to update:** With so many plugins and no clear steps, it took a lot of time and effort to change content. - **Security goals:** The client had made security a strategic priority for the next 2–3 years. The website needed to keep pace with that plan. - **Easier upkeep:** The site needed to lean less on third-party plugins, run more reliably and be easier to look after. ## Our approach We set out to overhaul the Local Government Procurement website and then look after it. The work focused on three things: speed, security and simpler content updates. Our approach had seven parts: - **Fewer plugins:** We cut the plugins from 43 to 25. We took out the ones the site did not need and the ones that clashed, so the site ran faster and more steadily. - **Better hosting:** We moved the site to stronger hosting with room to grow. The site got faster and more reliable. - **Database clean-up:** We cleaned up the database and removed over 2 million records of unused data. The database ran faster, and there was less data to put at risk. - **Better security:** We reviewed security from top to bottom. We added two-factor authentication, encrypted sensitive data and set up a clear way to recover from a disaster. - **Content tools:** We built tools and steps that let the client update content on their own. They now rely less on outside help, and new content goes live sooner. - **Working with IT:** We worked closely with the client's new Head of IT and Security. Together we made sure the site met every security need without getting in the way of marketing or daily work. - **Backing their goals:** We kept helping the client reach its goals, with regular updates, speed checks and security fixes. ## What we did - **First clean-up:** We found and took out the plugins the site did not need. We tidied the code and fixed the bugs and clashes, so the site ran steadily again. - **New hosting:** We moved the site to new, high-performance hosting. Pages loaded much faster, and the whole site responded more quickly. - **Leaner database:** We deleted over 2 million unused records from the database. It ran faster, with less risk of data problems. - **Tighter security:** We turned on two-factor authentication, encrypted the databases and set up a plan to recover from a disaster. We also audited user access, so only authorised people could log in. - **Simple editing tools:** We built easy tools that let the client create and manage content without technical help. Updates could then go live sooner. - **Regular checks:** We set up a schedule for updates, backups and security checks. This keeps the site safe and fast. - **With their agency:** We worked with the agency that runs LGP's marketing, so all the technical work fitted together and had the support it needed. ## The results - **Faster site:** The hosting upgrade and the site clean-up cut load times and removed the slow points. Users got a smoother site. - **Stronger security:** Two-factor authentication and encrypted data protected sensitive information, and the site met government security standards. - **Simpler updates:** We cut the plugins from 43 to 25 and added content tools that are easy to use. The client could then manage and update the site on its own. New content went live faster, and the site cost less to run. - **Fewer bugs:** The database clean-up made the site more stable. Bugs and clashes came up less often, so the service stayed reliable. - **Happy client:** The client was very happy with the changes. They pointed to a faster, safer site that helps them reach their strategic goals. - **Still working together:** We still work together, so the site grows with the client's needs. It keeps up with their goals and stays fast and secure. ## The outcome Working with LGP, we turned its website into a fast, secure site that is simple to run. We fixed the speed issues, raised security and made content easy to manage. That helped the client reach its goals and keep its service reliable. We still look after the site, and it keeps changing as the client grows and its security needs change. > TBST Digital transformed our website from a problematic platform into a streamlined, secure, and high-performing tool that supports our procurement processes efficiently. Their expertise in optimising our digital infrastructure has been invaluable to our operations. --- [Talk to us about your project](/contact/)