Wanneroo Showgrounds Skate Park too Expensive

A FUNDING shortfall could see plans for a wheeled sports and youth hub in Wanneroo redrawn, with works expected to cost closer to $875,000.

City of Wanneroo councillors have been advised to reject all tenders for the Ariti Avenue project tonight and to allow staff to review the scope of works which exceeded the $600,000 budgeted for.

An overhaul of the popular showgrounds facility is needed to improve the space and number of apparatus for users and to provide for different skill levels.

Enlocus was engaged by the City to design the skate park, with input from the community following petitions and requests from residents to upgrade it.

A petition with 47 signatures calling for development was presented to the council in 2006, followed by a 296-strong petition in 2011.

The Wanneroo Wheeled Sports Facility concept design was supported by councillors in April last year.

Key elements included transition (radius 1.2m, height 0.9m) with gap to bank, an enclosed bowl, a cantilevered skate bank 1200mm high, a skate terrace and ledges.

The concept also included a spectator turf embankment and sculptural seating, DJ space and a relocated 3-on-3 basketball court.

The project was advertised for tender in March.

A report to the council said an offer from Convic, which submitted the fixed lump sum cost of $875,000, was assessed by the panel as fully compliant, credible and had met the tender schedule and specifications.

“However, due to insufficient budgetary funding the award of this tender cannot proceed. The viability of the project proceeding at this stage is entirely compromised by the funding shortfall,” it said.

At last week’s briefing, Deputy Mayor Dot Newton questioned the more than $200,000 cost difference.

Infrastructure acting director Harminder Singh said that was the reason they were not accepting any tenders.

“We consider the price is much higher than the estimated cost so we need to review the specification and the estimated cost and work out where the differences are, because the market shouldn’t have changed that much, but we’ll clarify that through this exercise,” he said.

Mr Singh said the City would also need to start negotiations with Lotterywest about holding a $200,000 grant for the project, which would need to be extended to align with the end of the 2015-16 financial year.

“While we are reviewing the scope of work and cost estimate we’ll start discussions with Lotterywest straight away so we don’t lose that grant,” he said.

If supported by the council at tonight’s meeting, a quality surveyor would provide an accurate market estimate in relation to the construction drawings, technical specifications and potential contingency risks associated with the revised project scope.

A report would then go back before the council to include the revised, independently scrutinised budget figure to aid retendering of the project and for it to be built before the end of the 2015-16 financial year.