ALBURY Council has rejected a staff recommendation and awarded a major sewer infrastructure project at Ettamogah to Howlong company, Longford Civil, for $5.06 million.
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The company preferred by staff, Armstrong Construction, was slightly cheaper at $4.96 million and had previous experience in similar large scale sewer projects, but was Melbourne-based.
The awarding of the Ettamogah sewer extension contract was originally tabled in the open section of council last week, but was dealt with behind closed doors when opposition to the staff recommendation emerged.
The project will provide the required sewer capacity for the Nexus industrial hub the council has developed in the last decade and expands on the existing sewer network already servicing the Ettamogah Rise residential sub-division.
Council had a budget of $5.28 million for the works which includes some "complex under boring works" with a geotechnical assessment unable to rule out the presence of rocks in the works area.
The cheapest tender price of $3.89 million was ruled out.
Armstrong Constructions indicated between 50 to 80 per cent of all labour and sub-contractors would have been sourced locally as would 100 per cent of quarry materials and traffic control.
It also nominated a highly-skilled boring sub-contractor for the micro-tunnelling components of the works.
Longford Civil completed a Table Top water supply for council without delay, but in the opinion of staff "was not able to demonstrate they can complete a project of this scale and complexity nor do they have experience or established working relationships with specialist micro-tunnelling sub-contractors".
Armstrong Construction has completed multiple projects worth more than $7 million in the Bacchus Marsh, Rockbank, Kilmore, Melton and Ballarat areas.
"Their project program is clearly presented, is logical and is scheduled over six months," the staff report to council said.
