Maitland City Council is negotiating with the preferred tenderer for the Riverlink Building to make variations to the construction’s design for a “better value outcome.”
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At a recent closed council meeting, councillors voted unanimously not to accept any tender for the project and to speak with the company, Graph Building, to vary the scope and achieve savings.
Council will now negotiate with the preferred tenderer Graph Building to achieve savings so that the construction of the Riverlink Building achieves best value.
- Cr Philip Penfold.
The Riverlink Building is the key feature of the $20 million revamp of the city’s mall precinct, now known as The Levee.
The decision to vary the design was made to achieve savings so that the construction of the building achieves the best value for council within the available funding allocation.
Councillors also agreed not to call for fresh tenders on the basis that any changes to the project are not anticipated to be significant, other than some variations in scope.
Four contractors were previously selected through an expression of interest process and reported to council in April 2016.
Cr Philip Penfold who moved the resolution not to accept any tender said it is important council get value for money.
“Council will now negotiate with the preferred tenderer Graph Building to achieve savings so that the construction of the Riverlink Building achieves best value,” he said.
“I personally expect those negotiations won’t result in the loss of any element of the designed facility and I look forward to work commencing on site in coming weeks,” Cr Penfold said.
The Riverlink Building will be an archway for pedestrians that connects High Street and the city centre to the bank of the Hunter River.
It will also include a cafe/restaurant and new toilet facilities.
The project is expected to complete by the end of 2017.
