That’s the message from Spendmapp by Geografia, which has singled out the Naracoorte Lucindale Council for its economic momentum and community-first approach.

Spendmapp by Geografia provides bank transaction data for local governments and published a client story on LinkedIn recently about the district’s economic development success.

The latest data shows local spending is climbing, visitor dollars are growing, online shopping is rising, and even ‘escape spend’ is up — a sign of household confidence and prosperity circulating across the Limestone Coast.

Spendmapp is an award-winning tool that provides accurate and up-to-date insights into consumer spending patterns across local communities. It uses transaction data to help local governments, organisations and businesses track their region’s economic activity.

“Escape spend is usually seen as money ‘lost’ outside the region.

“But for Naracoorte, I’d say it may be a positive sign: households are confident, enjoying experiences beyond town, and much of that spending is still close by.

“In practice, it means prosperity is circulating, not just within Naracoorte, but across the Limestone Coast as a whole,” the Spendmapp client story highlighted.

“This combination tells a story of balance: prosperity at home, confidence to explore, and regional benefits shared.

“What really makes Naracoorte stand out is how they tie in Spendmapp to their conversations.

“They don’t just measure growth. They make it a community conversation.

“They share Spendmapp insights with local businesses and residents, ensuring everyone is across the progress and pulling forward together.”

Mayor Patrick Ross said the council has been using Spendmapp since July 2024 to track real-time trends, with data made publicly available to help local businesses and community groups thrive.

“Not only are we seeing growth, we’re sharing it—and that’s what sets Naracoorte apart,” Mr Ross said in a statement.

He said the data provided the council with an image of the town’s economy every day, showing how trends and events were changing.

“Importantly, the information is regularly uploaded to the council’s website so it can also be used by the wider community in grant applications, event analysis, and economic development strategies.”

This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 17 September 2025.