Budget blow out but skate park goes ahead

TENDERS were awa-rded for two long-awaited projects with the reconstruction of Shetland Heights Road at San Remo and a skate park for Kilcunda. 

Councillors voted in favour to award the tenders at last week’s shire meeting.

The community had long campaigned for the sealing of Shetland Heights Road, due to a number of issues ranging from dust and driving conditions.

While the opening of Bass Coast College’s San Remo campus also added to the pressure. 

The total budget for the project is $2,060,000, with funding of $1,847,000 received from the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and a Council Contribution of $220,000.

SR Excavations Pty Ltd received the tender contract, with works expected to commence in February next year and be completed by June. 

Oddly enough, there remained $67,125.70 available in the adopted budget of $2,060,000, which will be used for contingency if required.

However, the story was different for Kilcunda’s skate park and playspace renewal, with council approving additional funds of $148,500 for the $720,532 project (includes contingency, internal management costs).

This was due to the tender submission price being higher than the allocated budget, with the project awarded to Grind Projects Pty Ltd.

The shire stated the company presented the ‘lowest cost conforming tender’ and was the best value to council. 

“This is based on the works required and current complexities of the construction industry, where Council has received feedback from local contractors that there has been significant price increases and shortages in some construction materials,” shire documents stated.  

“Given the quantum of the budget shortfall, the panel engaged in a value management exercise with the tenderers as part of a Best and Final Offer (BAFO), however this exercise didn’t bring tender submission below budget.  

“Re-tendering this work would be unlikely to attract additional tenderers, risks further price rises and further delays in the project completion.”

Construction is expected to begin in March 2023 and be completed by May.

The shire also stated the budget increase is offset by a transfer from Council’s Skate Park Reserve.

At last week’s meeting, Cr Les Larke remarked that in previous meetings, he had calculated a significant ‘shortfall of cash’ in the shire’s cash reserves.

“In all likelihood council needs to recognise that the additional budget requested will not come by way of book entry from those reserves,” Cr Larke said.

“But will ultimately come through further borrowings.”

However, a council officer confirmed the additional funds would be taken from the skate reserve, as the money was available, and wouldn’t be a borrowing. 

Smart parking almost live… just in time for holiday period!

BASS Coast Shire has confirmed all smart parking sensors have been installed in Wonthaggi and Cowes with the associated parking ‘app’ expected to be ready this month.

According to the shire, the sensors have been in a ‘period of monitoring to ensure they are functioning correctly.’

Electronic signage is scheduled to be installed in Cowes during the next month, while the availability app is currently being tested before being becoming available.

The project was originally slated to ‘go-live’ in October.

In total, the project has seen the installation of 730 parking bay sensors in Wonthaggi and Cowes.

Smart Parking will be used by the shire to aid enforcement, as the technology will let officers know exactly how long a car has been parked in a parking bay.

However, the technology does not issue infringements and is not paid parking.