Next stage of sewage project on

WHILE construction of the Iluka sewage treatment plant has only just begun, Clarence Valley Council is preparing for the next stage of the project.

Work begins on clearing the site in preparation for construction of the plant. Picture: Graham Orams

WHILE construction of the Iluka sewage treatment plant has only just begun, Clarence Valley Council is wasting no time in preparing for the next stage of the project.

Tonight, councillors are expected to endorse the civil and corporate committee's recommendation to award the tender for the next stage.

If approved tonight, the next stage of the project – reticulation and transfer system pipe work – will be awarded to Ledonne Constructions.

Ledonne was one of three companies short listed, tendering $13,072,992 for the work.

The other companies – AJ Pipelines and Infrastructure Constructions – tendered $13,927,291 and $16,970,812 respectively.

Ledonne's original tender was $10,986,786, but the company sought permission to resubmit it after it apparently forgot to include GST in the price.

The tenders were called in 2008 when the council sought expressions of interest for construction of the Lawrence Sewage Reticulation.

The EoI indicated the shortlist would also be used for the Iluka sewerage scheme.

Following the Lawrence project's tendering process, NSW Public Works – on behalf of the council – invited three of the four short-listed companies to tender for the long-awaited Iluka project.

Meanwhile, the Johnsons Ln site is abuzz with construction activity.

Trucks and workers can be seen continually entering and leaving the site, which is in the early stages of construction.

In February, Clarence Valley Council announced that construction of the Iluka sewage treatment plant had commenced with Monadelphous Engineering Pty Ltd being awarded the $16 million contract.

Monadelphous undertook survey work in early February and began site construction works this month.

Heavy equipment can be seen clearing the site in preparation for construction of the plant.

Clarence Valley Council has

allocated $20.5 million a year for two years to pay for the scheme.

Tenders for the third stage – ebb-tide release – are scheduled to be called by the council mid-year.

The scheme is expected to be completed by December 2012.

Originally published as Next stage of sewage project on