General News
22 December, 2020
Hub set to kick start 2021
THE long awaited new library and Cedric Davies Community Hub in Mareeba is set to get underway in January, kick starting $4 million in capital works across the Shire.
THE long awaited new libraryand Cedric Davies Community Hub in Mareeba is set toget underway in January, kick starting $4 million in capital works across the Shire.
At last Wednesdays ordinary and final meeting of 2020,the Mareeba Shire Councilawarded and endorsed a number of tenders to the value of$4 million.
Cairns construction company, Osborne ConstructionSolutions has been awardedthe refurbishment of the Cedric Davies Community Hub,while Mareeba builder Mindil Pty Ltd has been contracted to construct the new pound and animal refuge facility.
FNQ Solar Solutions was awarded the tender for the Shire wide solar project.
After awarding the tender of the Hub works to a Cairns builder, Council stated that they (the builder) will workwith local suppliers and contractors to refurbish the oldBowls Club into a modern new library and community space.
Osborne Construction Solutions were successful overtwo other Mareeba-based construction companies to securethe refurbishment with themotion to award them the tender carried unanimously.
Each of the tenders for the refurbishment was evaluated and scored against the criteria set out in the tender documentswith each business given a total score for their submission.
The lowest tender, whichwas Osborne Construction Solutions, came in at $990,610for the refurbishment.
MSC Mayor Angela Top- pin said that while pricing isimportant other factors takepart in deciding which company is awarded the tender.
“While the price is clearly important, there are severalother factors that play a significant role of the evaluation,”Cr Toppin said.
“Part of this criteria includes locality considerationwhich is built into the overall tender evaluation process.
“Council always likes to see projects awarded to local contractors but at the sametime we must get the best value for money we can for theratepayers’ dollar.”
MSC gives preference to local businesses giving them a 10% price advantage onthe first $50,000 of a contract which equals a maximum of$5,000 leeway for local businesses lodging their tenders.
This means that for a localbusiness to be given preference they must only be a maximum of $5,000 more expensive than alternative tenders.
“Council has been in discussions and negotiations withthe contractor for the Hub project, and we are satisfied thatlocal suppliers and sub-contractors will be utilised wherever possible,” Cr Toppin said.
Mayor Toppin said Council is very appreciative to boththe State and Federal Governments for the grants Councilhas received.
“All of these projects are funded through grantsand we are extremely grateful to both levels of government for the assistance provided to enable Council to deliver these projects without burdening theratepayer,” she said.
Mareeba Chamber of Commerce President Joe Moro saidwhile the Chamber is naturally disappointed with Council’sdecision to not award the tender to a Mareeba company, itis ultimately their decision.
“It’s a bit disappointing from the chambers point of view, we would have preferred to have a Mareeba business,” he said.
“At the end of the day it is Council’s decision and theyare answerable to the ratepayers.
“Hopefully even though they are a Cairns contractor, we hope they will source a lot of Mareeba sub-contractors.”
The Cedric Davies Community Hub Refurbishment isplanned to start on January 11,2021 with construction scheduled to be finished in early tomid-April 2021, weather permitting.
