Bundaberg Regional Council vote on Aquatic Centre tender process

It’s one of the largest contracts ever awarded by the Bundaberg council. Now, councillors have voted on how to best pick the right company for the construction job.

Bundaberg Regional Council has voted to open a two-part tendering process for one of the single biggest contracts awarded in its history.

A recommendation was put forward for the two-part tendering process at council’s briefing meeting last week, which will allow public expressions of interest to be put forward before inviting written tenders for the centre’s construction.

All councillors voted in favour of the recommendation and the motion was moved.

Plans for the centre were revealed in September last year and include a FINA-standard complex with a retractable roof, cafe and grassed spectator area.

The pool itself is pegged to be a covered FINA standard, 10 lane, 50m heated swimming pool including a ramp and sling equitable access.

The project will include additional indoor pools as well as fitness, teaching and therapy rooms, creating a facility able to offer comprehensive fitness and health services.

Stage 1 of the regional aquatic centre is estimated to cost $23.8 million and contribute $22.5 million to gross regional product – including $7.8 million directly, while the remainder is through flow-on benefits.

Economic modelling suggests the project will create 126 full-time equivalent jobs during construction.

The council’s strategic projects manager spoke at the briefing meeting of the importance of managing a project of such magnitude in the correct manner.

“The main reasoning behind this is that the construction of the Bundaberg Regional Aquatic Centre will be one of the largest single contracts that council has ever awarded,” he said.

“The construction of large pools including the associated plant and filtration equipment is very technical in nature and should only be undertaken by specialist contractors.”

It was heard that any issues during construction or afterwards could be “extremely expensive” to remedy.

A two-stage procurement process allows projects to develop sooner by allowing the early appointment of a contractor prior to completion of a design and can provide better certainty of price.

The contractor’s involvement at pre-construction stage allows for better input and therefore fewer problems during construction.

A date has not yet been set for expressions of interest commencing.