Next Tuesday 20th November a report will be presented to Council to progress the Scoping Study into the feasibility of establishing an Aquatic Centre/Waterpark within the region.
As per my previous posts on this subject, I need to make it clear that apart from the $100,000 allocated for this study, no decision has been made by Council to construct the facility and no other funding has been allocated in the 2012/13 budget.
Background:
At the Council Meeting of 21 February 2012, I successfully moved the following motion:
“That Council resolve to allocate funding in the 2012/13 Budget for a scoping study into the feasibility of establishing a Regional Aquatic Centre and Waterpark.”
In accordance with this resolution a project proposal was prepared.
Building on previous investigations the scope incorporates a number of progressive and incremental stages to advance the project to an ‘investment ready’ proposal for a new Regional Aquatic Centre incorporating water leisure infrastructure for the Bundaberg Region.
Activities to be undertaken include:
- A needs analysis by reviewing existing strategies and trends of swimming within the region, incorporating commentary on the potential benefits of water leisure components;
- Examine the potential for tourism and economic benefits including events attraction implications;
- Perform region wide site identification for potential facility, focusing on existing community reserves and existing Council owned freehold land with one ‘ultimate’ site that does not consider tenure or ownership;
- Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threats Analysis of each identified site (no less than 6 sites) with particular consideration towards: functionality; tenure; zoning; neighbouring land uses; accessibility; proximity to population centres including future growth projections; statutory approvals necessary; and trunk infrastructure requirements (road, water, waste water, stormwater, electrical etc).
- Council resolution of the two most preferred sites to proceed to Land Use Plans including establishing the required balance between the aquatic / swimming component and the recreational / water leisure features with auxiliary infrastructure considerations. Included within the Land Use Plans will be graphics or photographic examples of the proposed infrastructure;
- Community consultation on the two short-listed options with the feedback received forming part of the selection of the site to advance to conceptual designs;
- Council resolution of the preferred location proceeding to geotechnical investigations and site specific conceptual designs of all aquatic, water leisure and auxiliary infrastructure, to be accompanied by Capital Cost estimate;
- Forecast operational cash flow of proposed facility including all operational expenditure, likely revenues, depreciation, renewal expenditure and whole of life costings; and
- Management options and recommendations to maximise facility potential. All activities are scheduled to be completed in the 2012/13 financial year.
To deliver these outputs requires several professional disciplines sourced from external consultancy consortiums.
Procurement assessment was conducted by the major projects unit with a quotation request document issued to five (5) suitable consultancy firms for their consideration.
Submissions closed at 10.00 am on Monday 29 October 2012 and Quoters were required to price a schedule with a lump sum price.
An evaluation of Quoters was conducted with the following points considered as part of assessment:
a) Experience of the company in delivering similar projects 20%
b) Management and technical skills of the project team 20%
c) QA, WPHS Systems and Insurances 10%
d) Time Performance 10% e) Price 40% Quoters were asked to supply sufficient information to enable the above factors to be considered.
A total of two (2) submissions were received and a list of the Quoters is below with their price (including GST) and weighted assessment scores:
1. ADG (Strategic Leisure Group) $125,950 Score 87%
2. Ross Planning $98,500 Score 91%