A decision to overlook a Cairns-based construction company for stage one of the Wangetti Trail ‘a slap in the face’
The State Government’s decision to overlook an internationally acclaimed Far North firm for a lucrative Wangetti Trail contract has been slammed as “disgraceful” and “disrespectful”.
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THE State Government’s decision to overlook an internationally acclaimed Far North firm for a lucrative Wangetti Trail contract has been slammed as “disgraceful” and “disrespectful”.
Cairns-based mountain bike design and construction leader World Trail – the team responsible for dreaming up the $41.4 million project – was bypassed for a Brisbane company yesterday in a move Liberal candidate for Barron River Linda Cooper labelled a snub to Cairns.
World Trail also built the international racing standard trails at Smithfield.
World Trail director Glen Jacobs said he was disappointed to be informed about the decision in the newspaper on Tuesday.
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“Given the time we have been involved with this, we were a bit shocked,” he said.
“But it has gone to the big city again which seems to be happening often.
“When these projects keep going to a big city or international companies it’s a bitter pill to swallow.”
Ms Cooper said World Trail was one of the few companies on the planet who specialised in rainforest mountain bike trails.
“I am disgusted with the decision and I think all the state representatives should be disgusted about speaking glowingly about it,” she said.
“This is hypocrisy about them supporting local jobs.
“The way they have been treated is a complete slap in the face.”
Wagners Composite Fiber Technologies, which has a US office and employees across Europe and the Middles East, will partner with Townsville’s Enviroedge to build the first section of the trail from Palm Cove to Wangetti.
A spokesman from the Department of State Development, Tourism and Innovation said the company was a world leader in eco-construction and had won a fierce bidding process.
“The preferred contractor was selected through an open market competitive tender process to ensure value for money for Queensland,” he said.
Destination Cairns Marketing managing director Denis Donaghy said it was a “bad decision.”
“The World Trail boys have spent countless hours that they haven’t been paid for to get the department to where it is today,” he said.
“They are world leaders in this field.
“For them to get overlooked, I think it stinks.”
Originally published as A decision to overlook a Cairns-based construction company for stage one of the Wangetti Trail ‘a slap in the face’