ZAUNER Construction is the preferred tenderer to build a major truck stop and service station at Barnwartha North.
Wodonga councillors on Monday will consider a staff recommendation that the Albury-based company should win the $4,999,600 contract.
Zauner is building a TAFE driver training centre at the Logic hub, which is opposite the site for which the truck stop is planned on the Murray Valley Highway.
The company, led by Garry Zauner, recently built The Cube for Wodonga Council and is constructing the WAVES swimming centre at White Box Rise estate, also for the council.
Zauner’s price was the lowest of the 11 companies that submitted tenders, the highest price quoted was $8.45 million.
The truck stop — officially known as a fatigue management centre and trailer interchange — and has been designed by GHD.
It is yet to receive a planning permit, a process that is subject to public comment.
The council will next week be asked to approve the contract, subject to the permit being issued and the project going ahead.
The council’s city business services director Trevor Ierino sounded a note of caution in his report on the project, saying “it is still not clear whether the service centre is definitively going ahead”.
“There may be issues resulting from referral authorities, such as VicRoads and the North-East Catchment Management Authority, that may result in some changes to the design layout,” he said.
“These are not seen as major roadblocks to the project.”
Zauner would be expected to do the job over six months.
The council has received $5.5 million in grants from Victoria’s regional growth fund and the federal transport department for the project.
Border-based Joss Construction and Southern Cross were among local firms that tendered.
Others included Excell Gary Bruni, which operates locally, and firms from outside the region.
