SUPPORTERS of the Athenium Theatre have reacted angrily to a bid by Junee Shire councillors to employ a Wagga-based contractor over a local contractor to carry out long-awaited renovations.
The heated debate was sparked last week at the ordinary meeting of Junee Shire Council where councillors voted to accept a recommendation to select Wagga company Nash Bros Constructions as the preferred tenderer.
But Friends of the Athenium is voicing concerns, saying not only is the Nash Bros quote “too expensive” but that a Junee contractor should be awarded the job so the economic benefit stays in the town.
The Nash Bros quote, as supplied to architect Ashley Dunn of Workshop 1 Dunn + Hillam Architects, was $528,000, who also gave the company a glowing reference in his report to council general manager Greg Campbell.
“Nash Bros are well known to us and to council and I have no doubt they have the resources and experience to do the job in a thoroughly satisfactory manner ... Nash Bros has nominated several local sub-contractors,” the report read.
It went on to say that the Junee tenderer, while offering the lowest price at $462,177, did not provide a trade breakdown or program.
“He was asked to submit this information after the tender closed but failed to do so,” the report read.
But spokeswoman for Friends of the Athenium Barbara Manwaring wants council to explain why a Wagga contractor is being used.
“We really believe that the local tenderer should have been the winner because it would cost just over $50,000 less than the Wagga quote,” said Mrs Manwaring.
“Already there has been comment from council
that they would have to approach the successful tenderer to cut costs. The local tenderer wants to charge less so that extra money could be put back into the theatre.
“We believe in local work for local builders. This project has been dragging on for seven years now.”
But Mayor of Junee Lola Cummins says the Friends have “got it wrong” and a final decision has not been reached about who will be awarded the tender.
“The tender hasn’t been awarded yet. It’s just that Nash Bros has been named as the preferred tenderer. It all comes back before council in April,” she said.
“What we did give was authority for the general manager to negotiate with the preferred tenderer and find out further details.”
Councillor Cummins admitted there had been issues
with council’s fax and internet which may have hampered the Junee tenderer’s ability to submit the extra details.
“The tender did come in when tenders closed but the
required documents were not submitted.
The tenderer then had 24 hours to do so but still didn’t ... technically, the tender was non-compliant,” she said.
The works include rewiring, interior ceiling, plumbing, painting and relocating toilets.
The issue will go back to council’s ordinary meeting in April.
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