The Hobart City Council, Glenorchy City Council, Kingborough Council and the Brighton Council have joined forces to partner in a tender for joint procurement of asphalt for local roads and footpaths.

 

Lord Mayor of Hobart Alderman Damon Thomas said that for a number of years the Hobart City Council had operated an asphalt plant producing asphalt for its needs in the Council’s Quarry at Lenah Valley.

 

“In the past Kingborough, Glenorchy and Brighton have individually tendered to fulfil their supplies of asphalt. There is a strong probability of savings being made through improved administration and the fact that tenderers are given the opportunity to offer alternatives for the supply of asphalt to more than one council.

 

“There will also be an opportunity to jointly program road and footpath works across all four Councils to gain further efficiencies and savings,” he said.

 

Kingborough Mayor Dr Graham Bury said the Council stands to gain significantly from the joint tender.

 

“Too often in the past there has been criticism of councils for not sharing resources or their knowledge base for the benefit of their ratepayers. While we hope to be able to achieve savings, we’re also achieving the benefits of regional cooperation by working with neighbouring councils,”  he said.

 

Acting Brighton Mayor Geoff Taylor says the tender contracts will be comprehensive in nature and cover a range of asphalt products and related services such as supply only and supply and lay.

 

Lord Mayor Thomas said it will be up to each council to make its own decision on the joint tender process.

 

“All four are confident their ratepayers will be the beneficiaries of significant savings. This has already occurred when a number of Greater Hobart councils jointly tendered for insurance brokerage services to effect major savings on premiums,” he said.