ALBURY Airport will undergo further upgrades next year with a $3.02 million contract awarded to a Sydney-based company for reconstruction of three taxiways and lighting improvements.
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But a push from Cr Henk van de Ven to increase the scope of works for an extension of one of the taxiways valued at more than $1 million was rolled.
Antoun Civil Engineering’s tender was the only one of four submissions for the works to be done within the budget of $3.28 million.
The inclusion of the additional works on Taxiway Alpha was done to test the market, but all four submissions came back over $1 million and over the original budget.
Cr van de Ven argued the extra works could be accommodated within council’s 2018-19 works program even though it had been listed as a “medium term objective” of up to five years.
“One of the total frustrations of looking at infrastructure spending by governments around this country is that it is always too late,” he said.
“We should bite the bullet and get them both done at the same time.”
An amendment put forward to award Antoun Civil Engineering both jobs was defeated 6-3.
Engineering director Brad Ferris said there was no pressing need to bring the works forward.
“We included the separable portion just to see what the market response to the contract was and if it could be fit in the original budget,” he said.
“The exercise proved it can’t be.”
Cr Graham Docksey said the works should wait.
“We are going to be moving into unfavourable weather conditions to complete this project,” he said.
Cr Alice Glachan said if they went ahead some other project would miss out.
“This report tells us quite clearly that staff looked at combining a number of works,” she said.
“Regretfully it wasn’t possible to be able to do so.”
The works will improve commercial and private aviation efficiencies with reduced take-off and landing delays.
