ALBURY’S new council has declared its intent to support Border businesses over outsiders by defying a recommendation to give a tender to a Canberra firm.
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Despite having a tender $6000 higher, Albury’s Teilion Architects were preferred over Canberra’s Clarke Keller Pty Ltd for design work on the redevelopment of Lavington Sports Ground.
Council engineer Ian Redman had recommended Clarke Keller’s $629,937 bid as being best value ahead of Teilion’s $635,767.
New council member John Stuchbery moved at this week’s meeting to switch to Teilion.
“I think we should be promoting local companies as much as is possible when awarding contracts,” Cr Stuchbery said.
“In terms of the actual tender amount there was little difference...about 1 per cent with Teilion being slightly more expensive, I don’t think that is significant at all.”
Deputy mayor Amanda Cohn noted the council’s net profit of $14.8 million for 2015-16 gave some leeway for the decision.
“Given the price difference is only $5000, in the context of council’s very strong financial position … I think it’s entirely appropriate for council to spend the extra $5000 to support a local business,” Cr Cohn said.
“I think that’s ratepayers’ money from our community going back into local jobs.”
The decision came after an earlier debate over expressions of interest received for a terminal upgrade at Albury airport.
C Murray King successfully moved that a Melbourne and Brisbane company be taken off a shortlist for the work and that two Border construction firms Premier and Zauner be added to the remaining three – Joss, Magi-Build and Southern Cross – who are local.
He argued the city should back Border businesses to keep money in the area.
Ex-mayor Alice Glachan queried why a process was conducted if it could be “arbitrarily changed”.
Cr Glachan said she felt uncomfortable adding Zauner after an exercise involving set criteria.
Cr Graham Docksey said that he liked local contractors but they had to be competitive.