By ERWIN CHLANDA
The first seal of the Outback Way, which traverses Australia east-west through Alice Springs, may be longer than the Federal Government is estimating.
Huge fluctuations in construction costs may come into play, making the per-kilometer cost much lower than budgeted by Canberra.
Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss recently approved stage one of the project, estimating the per-kilometer cost at $825,000, for about 16 kilometres of sections on Tjukaruru Road and the Plenty Highway.
This is more than three times the cost for which the Boulia Shire in Queensland suggested it could build the road.
A spokesman for the NT Department of Infrastructure, which is responsible for carrying out the work and meeting the the cost dollar for dollar, says the tender process will be open for allcomers.
“The work involves road formation and sealing works, 12km on the Plenty Highway and 4km on the Tjukarura Road.
“The works will be public tendered shortly and the successful company will be selected via a competitive process, not on a fixed cost per kilometre.
“If savings are achieved on this project, further upgrades of the Outback Way will be undertaken.”
Will tenders be restricted to Territory companies?
“As the tender process will be a public tender, industry players from any jurisdiction can submit tenders,” says the spokesman.
“The tenders are then evaluated on a value for money basis where factors including price, local development, capacity and past performance are considered.
“Contractors must also have NT CAL accreditation.”
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
The freedom of the press still furnishes that check upon government which no constitution has ever been able to provide – Chicago Tribune.
Should the tender process be restricted to NT companies?
No, why?
A previous Alice Springs News Online report quotes:
“Both the Ngaanyatjarraku Shire in WA and the Boulia Shire in Queensland can build sealed roads for around $250,000 a kilometer while the cost in the Territory is $500,000 – a major concern for the group promoting the east-west highway running through Alice Springs.”
If both councils have expressed interests in building the roads then let them build the road rather than just allow NT companies to put in tenders for constructing the road.
We all will benefit from all of the extra kilometers being sealed.
@1 Wasn’t that why the Mereenie Loop Road or Red Centre Way or whatever the trendy name it is called these days, stalled after government promises of finishing that off over 10 years ago? And it still hasn’t happened. Let’s hope this road goes ahead a little quicker. Plus that is a huge difference in costs, ridiculously different.