Gympie council reveals flood damaged roads to be fixed in $9.9m works

A monster flood repair contract worth almost $10 million will be awarded by the Gympie council.

Twenty-six flood ruined roads across the Gympie region are finally set to be repaired as part of a $9.9m package expected to be accepted by GYmpie Regional Council at Wednesday’s special meeting.

More than two dozen flood-wrecked roads are finally being given a long-awaited fix as part of a $9.9m road repair package expected to be approved by Gympie Regional Council.

The council is being asked to endorse the multi-million dollar contract at a special meeting on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, with the accompanying staff report moving to allay concerns over a $20m difference in tender prices.

Four submissions for the job were made to the council, ranging from $9.9m to $28.6m.

Brown Contractors, the proposed tender winner, had the lowest offer.

However it was not considered to be an “unusually low bid” despite their price being about 89 per cent lower than the median value of the quotes.

The roads planned to be repaired stretch across the region, including at Goomeri, Tansey, Widgee and Kilkivan.

Transport and Main Roads considers an “unusually low bid” when a tender is 15 per cent or more below the median quote, the report says.

It urged caution in using the clause “when the market is over-heated (demand for services exceeds supply)”.

Gympie’s 30 most influential, inspirational women of 2023

“In an over-heated market, what appears to be a ULB may in fact be a reasonable price from a tenderer who tenders competitively, but other tenderers do not,” the report says.

80+ faces: Fashion, fun in full flight at first race day of 2023

The council’s evaluation panel “chose to consider... the provisions... did not apply” on the grounds the market was over-heated, Brown Contractors’ tender aligned with the estimated value, and the council’s own tender process did not allow for the ULB provisions to be considered.

The cost is expected to be covered entirely by disaster recovery funding arrangements with the state and federal governments.

Councillors are being asked to accept Brown Contractors’ tender.

Roads which would be repaired under the package include, Abel Rd, Noosa Rd, Lawson Rd, Eel Creek Rd, Booubyjan Rd, North Deep Creek Rd, Manumbar Rd, Gap Rd, Cedar Pocket Rd, O’Rourkes Rd, Manyung Rd, Glen Echo Rd, Cinnabar Rd, Power Rd (Widgee), McIntosh Creek Rd, Goomeri West Rd, Curra Estate Rd, Rocks Rd, Moy Pocket Rd, Harvey Rd, Delray Rd, Sandy Creek Rd, Mudlo Rd, Kinbombi Rd, East Deep Creek Rd, Traveston Rd.