By Dominique Tassell
Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) moved a motion to enter into a contract with EnviroAg for the Warwick Saleyards project without considering other options at the recent Ordinary Council Meeting, leading to debate in the chambers.
The motion resolved not to request quotes or tenders for the drafting of specifications for the Redevelopment of the Warwick Saleyards from EnviroAg Australia, due to the specialised nature of the services, pursuant to Section 235(b) of the Local Government Regulation 2012. The motion also delegated authority to Chief Executive Dave Burges regarding the contract.
Councillors debated whether or not this was the proper use of the Local Government Regulation 2012.
Cr Jo McNally was the first to question this, stating the project was too large not to go out to tender.
Cr Stephen Tancred interpreted this as her discussing the actual size of the project, which is mentioned in the legislation, however, SDRC outlined in the report that they were using the clause stating “the local government resolves that, because of the specialised or confidential nature of the services that are sought, it would be impractical or disadvantageous for the local government to invite quotes or tenders.”
Mr Burges stated after the meeting that SDRC had gotten the grant necessary to go ahead with the saleyards project in large part due to the plan made by EnviroAg, and felt it would be a waste of resources to go out to tender and possibly have to bring another group up to speed on the project.
In the report tabled at the meeting, it stated that staff “are of the view that EnviroAg will provide superior value for money due to their extensive knowledge of the site from undertaking the preliminary design and that it would be disadvantageous to engage a different consultant at this stage of the project”.
In 2021 SDRC resolved to proceed with the development of preliminary designs for the redevelopment of the Warwick Saleyards and engaged EnviroAg Australia (EnviroAg) to draft Preliminary Designs, which were finalised and presented to Council through an Information Session on 7 October 2021.
In 2021 SDRC applied through the Australian Government’s National Recovery and Resilience Agency Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program for $4.5M towards the major redevelopment and enhancement of the Warwick Saleyards. SDRC’s co-contribution to this project is $3M.
On 22 February 2022, The Hon. David Littleproud Minister for Agriculture announced successful funding through the Black Summer Bushfire Grants Program to the value of $4.5M for the redevelopment of the Warwick Saleyards.
