Two local skatepark designers have questioned Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s decision to award the redevelopment contract for Kyneton Skatepark to a large Melbourne-based firm.
Kyneton designer Darren White of Baseplate and Woodend designer Wade Trevean of EastbyWest – the team behind the successful Lancefield and Romsey skateparks – said they were bitterly disappointed their quote was overlooked in favour of non-local company Convic.
“We understand local companies are not guaranteed council work simply because they are local. However, we believe there are unanswered questions about how council calculated the tender pricing scores, which ultimately decided the winning bid,” Darren said.
After the contract was awarded, council provided feedback showing Convic’s quote was only slightly cheaper than the Baseplate/EastbyWest submission, and the overall scores between the two bids were very close.
Darren and Wade said they could not reconcile how the price score was calculated – and this score determined the outcome of the project award. They said council had refused to explain its method.
“If council shows how the price score was calculated, there is nothing to question – it would prove they made the correct decision, end of story,” Darren said.
“However, their refusal to provide transparency on this does nothing to alleviate our concerns, it only amplifies them.”
LOCAL BUSINESSES FAVOURED?
Under council’s procurement policy, local businesses may be favoured where possible if their tender is no more than 10 per cent higher than the preferred submission, the difference does not exceed $10,000, and the quality of the proposal is assessed as equal or better.
Yet after the submission date closed, council decided the Baseplate/EastbyWest proposal exceeded the project scope (which included additional services at no cost). Council then allowed Convic to resubmit its quote so the scope could be aligned.
Darren and Wade said they were not told the advertised scope had changed or given the same opportunity to revise their submission.
Council’s director of assets and operations, Dom Testoni, said council was satisfied the tender process complied with council’s procurement policy and the principles of probity, fairness and value for money.
“Broadly, council’s procurement policy does include a section on local business preference, which outlines council’s willingness to consider paying more for goods, services and works from a local business rather than a non-local business, subject to certain criteria being met,” he said.
“Tender details are not appropriate for council to provide or comment on, due to commercial in confidence.”
Darren and Wade said they simply wanted council to review its decision-making process, be transparent with its price score methodology, acknowledge any mistakes and make amends if required.
“If council has made mistakes at the start of the process and gets to keep pushing ahead while questions remain unanswered, to then say, ‘Oh well, nothing we can do now, we’re too far along the process’, it is a depressing reality that we live in,” Darren said.
“Here’s hoping a more supportive and open approach is taken when it comes to the construction of the skatepark, along with other future community projects,” Wade added.
The total project cost is estimated at about $1.5 million, with $750,000 in federal funding committed. A staged approach will be undertaken while council seeks further funding to complete the project.
Feedback is now open on the Kyneton Skatepark design and closes Sunday May 24.
Details at: yoursay.mrsc.vic.gov.au/kyneton-skatepark