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00:00:00 Mayor Stewart: Good afternoon. I declare the meeting open. I would like to acknowledge that we are meeting on the traditional lands of the Kabi Kabi people and I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging. I note that everyone is in attendance and that Councillor Jurisevic is and Councillor Finzel are attending via Zoom. Today's special meeting is to consider Hinterland Bridges Replacement Tenor Award. We have project coordinator Dennis Lindstrah here. Hi Dennis. Are there any questions for Dennis? I've got a question Dennis. Joe, would you like to go? Speaker 2: I have a question if that's okay, ma'am. Mayor Stewart: You go. Speaker 2: Dennis, the decision to put the two tenders together, the two bridges, I said the time schedule is supposed to be one in the early half of the year and one in the second half of the year.
00:01:00 Did we still get a financial benefit from combining the two bridges into one contract or would it have been beneficial to probably give us a time advantage if we separated the two? Speaker 1: We still believe there's a... benefit for council if we combine the two. We've been out to tender. We have assessed those contractor bids. We went out to tender combining with the aim to combine those two bridges to save staff costs, overhead costs and to have a substantial package for the contract to bid on. Just let's say a difficult bridge and then simpler to be able to construct bridge. As well, we believe that to award two bridges to one contract to minimize staff costs and administrative requirements to manage the contracts.
00:02:00 Councillor Wilkie: Brian, you... Sorry. Dennis, you mentioned in your report there will be some impacts on access that the residents will experience. Can you talk a little bit more about that? Can you talk us through what residents will experience during the construction of these bridges? What can they expect to see in terms of changes to their access? Speaker 1: Yes. I separate the two bridges. So I'll start with the Tablelands Road Bridge. That is several portion one in the contract. Councillor Wilkie: Yes. Speaker 1: We have aimed to have least disruption for the residents to access to the properties. What we're going to do, we have a staged approach. Staged construction. Staged construction. A few weeks of prep works while the road is closed to the residents behind the bridge. However, the access is only closed for 8 till 3.40 to 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
00:03:00 So outside of that time frame, residents can use the road. As well, we've made a temporary pedestrian bridge that people, if they want to travel up the road, they have to park their bikes on the road. They park the car on the other side of the road up front. And then they can walk to the pedestrian bridge. And from the pedestrian bridge, they can access their cars as well. For people who are, well, who are older, we have, and for people who have children or groceries, have to take to their homes. We have taxi shuttle services in place. So the contractor can help them bringing everything what they need to their homes. Councillor Wilkie: And can you explain? How you've communicated this to the residents there so far? Speaker 1: Yes, in, I believe in the end of last year, we've done a community consultation session where we briefed the residents.
00:04:00 And those residents really were really helpful. We do it together. And that's what I always say. We do this together. We work with the residents to make it happen. Just when we've done the prep works, we've got to, we're going to do the bridge construction in 72 hours. That is very short duration. The full road will be closed 24 hours a day. The pedestrian bridge will still be open. After that, the bridge is replaced. And they do some asphalt works and some other works in the weeks afterwards. And residents can use the pedestrian bridge outside of normal hours. And the road, sorry, they can use a pedestrian bridge during normal hours. And the road, sorry, they can use a pedestrian bridge during normal hours. And the road, sorry, they can use a pedestrian bridge during normal working hours. And outside of those hours, they can use a pedestrian bridge. Councillor Wilkie: And just to clarify, how many residents will be affected and what percentage of those residents have you spoken with directly?
00:05:00 Speaker 1: I have to look that up for you. I don't know. Yeah, eight or nine. I think there were a couple of properties unoccupied. A couple of properties are occupied. They have a various. A range of people. People with family. B&B. We have an elderly person. There's a lot of people. And we have, of course, the lookout behind the bridge. And we're going to close the lookout just to be making sure we decrease the traffic load on the road. Councillor Wilkie: So basically, everyone's being contacted. Speaker 1: Yes. And spoken to. Yes. Yeah. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Speaker 1: And for Waponga Lane Bridge, there will be a detour in place, a couple of kilometers, and that will be signed and the residents will be informed by Ladbrokes TROP. Speaker 4: And we have provisions within the contract that the contractor has to engage with the community. Yep. And notify. Thank you.
00:06:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So the formal Noosa Trail Network doesn't use that part of the park. So there's no, like a lot of people do use the road. But there'll just be alternatives. So there's no blockage to the trail network. So the pedestrian bridge is in place? Yeah. Speaker 4: Yeah. So people can access across the pedestrian bridge. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yeah. That's right. Yeah. I'm just thinking, in terms of when you said the closure of the lookout, I'm just thinking. Yep. The interchange comes off a bit further down the road, doesn't it? Councillor Lorentson: Yeah. On page seven, Dennis, there's mention that there's further cost increases that weren't originally identified. What is the cash impact to council with these increases? And can you just talk us through it? Can you give it a bit on that? Speaker 4: So, feedback. Councillor Lorentson: That's with the steel. I've got the identified duty steel marketing price increases. Speaker 4: Yeah. The feedback I'm getting at the moment, it's about 25%, 25% increase. And we've managed to get a 50-50 funding process here, so that cost is shared.
00:07:00 Councillor Wegener: The key issue today is the increase in cost, right? Because the public consultation was done, and the bridges were going to be built. So the key thing is that we're here because the costs flow out. That's right. Speaker 4: Yeah. So there's multiple things. One of these projects is a complex project. Well, both of these projects are complex projects. And as part of the design and tender process, some of those complexities have come out. But also, we've seen an increase in steel and materials and concrete. And we've also seen an inflated market. So it's what we were talking about at the CWE previously last week. It's a combination of three things that we haven't seen before. Material costs are going up. The market's very busy. It's just hitting us, yeah.
00:08:00 Speaker 5: Sorry, just to add to that comment. It's not just our council that's experiencing this. Yeah. There's a, what we call the river's a goal. The amount of money that's flowing through to different councils at the moment means there is a heated market in terms of bridges, roads, buildings, and so on. So we are going to see some increases in prices. The good thing about this particular contract is that we don't wear all of that increase in price. It's worth 50-50 with the Commonwealth government who are part funding this. Councillor Wegener: Yeah. Okay. So that is the key issue we're dealing with. That's why I read this. Okay. And then we're not changing the bridges. We're not cutting them down. We're going to stick to it. We're not going to try to save money by making the bridges smaller, obviously. That's right. And what are the odds that this new amount of money is going to cover it? Are we going to turn around and be back around the table in a couple of months' time? Speaker 1: We have a contract in place. If we today approve the contract award, in the next days the contract will be issued
00:09:00 to the contractor and they will sign. The contractor has put their offer in. The contractor has had the draft contract with the requirements already at tender stage and they had no issues with the contract itself. They've put that offer in. We negotiated the offer. We changed the offer slightly. We did some clarifications. And we believe if we issue the contract to the contractor, he will sign the contract and we're good to go. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Just another side question. The old bridge timbers, you don't get them anymore. Is there anything in the contract about keeping those for our landscaping or is it because it is? Yes. Speaker 1: Yeah, it's very important for us that we keep the timber because of what we just said. And new timber is very expensive, it's very hard to get. So the timber of the Waponga Lane Bridge will be going to the Pomona Pound Yard and will be reused for our councils, for our own council to repair bridges. The Table and Road Bridge will try to retain materials.
00:10:00 However, because it's a very short duration, the bridge has to be closed. We don't know how much we can salvage with that, but definitely the Waponga Lane Bridge will salvage most of the timber, what we can reuse. Mayor Stewart: I've got a few questions. Just on page eight on our agenda, you talk about program risks and these are similar risks to many other infrastructures, projects, construction, taking longer, wet weather and lead time of materials. Can you talk a little bit about what you're doing to mitigate those risks? I think that's a great question. Speaker 1: Yes, for example, we have the geotechnical risks. We've done extensive geotechnical testing during the engineering of the project. In the contract, there's written how to, what to do if the soil conditions are slightly different than what's expected and how to fund that, how to pay for that.
00:11:00 Speaker 4: So with the program, we've allowed. There's a certain amount of days within the contract and we can't predict what that is, but it's like a contingency amount, bit like a contingency funding. So there's a certain amount of days within the contract and if they go above those days, they need to justify that with rain data. Speaker 1: And for other risks, we have negotiated with Telstra. There is a Telstra cable along the bridge. Telstra knows exactly the program and Telstra will be there to replace the cable, to relocate the cable and then the contractor will build a bridge. Mayor Stewart: Thank you. There's no more questions. I have a question. Speaker 3: Claire, I have a question. Karen. Can you hear me? Mayor Stewart: We can. Speaker 3: Yes. Okay. Thank you. Thanks, Dennis, for your report. I've just got a question with regards to the Waupunga Lane bridge.
00:12:00 I understand the tonnage, correct me if I'm wrong, is currently 16 ton. Is the new bridge, at what capacity are you planning for the tonnage to be with reference to the quarry trucks? What's going to be the tonnage on the new construction, please? Speaker 1: In general, those bridges will be replaced according to the plan. The grant funding requirements. One of the requirements. Sorry, what? Sorry, I didn't hear you. Speaker 3: What are your requirements? Speaker 1: Those bridges will be replaced according to current requirements. That's by the government, we have to make the bridge according to current standards, the current Australian standards. And the bridge code says we have to make those bridges unlimited load limit. That's 160, 60 tons. But that's according. We have to do that because of the bridge code. The bridge code is saying that we have to do that. Speaker 4: So it's conditional on receiving a 50-50 funding?
00:13:00 Yeah. And this project was commenced probably two years ago, Dennis? Yes. Yeah. Speaker 1: And already in 2015, we've identified that the bridge needed to be replaced. Mayor Stewart: Okay. Thank you. Okay. Any more questions, Councillor Finzel? Speaker 3: No, thank you, Mayor. Okay. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you, Councillor Lorentson. I just want to continue on Tom's point. So additional cash impact to council will be $844,218 on page 7, of which the increase will be shared by federal funding. My concern is if this is, as CEO has stated, a heated market, and these increases is just what's happening in this current environment, my concern is with our capital works project. So we've got a high capital works project, and to then add 15% to those estimates, where
00:14:00 are we going to get the surplus? Who's going to be funding the gap? Speaker 4: So to come out of general rates, Brett? It's just been- Yeah. Speaker 5: I guess I do have to answer that question. One is about this project, and that report sets out what the increase is and the reasons for that. There's a second question about what's the implications for increasing prices across our capital program. A lot of the bigger ones have already been let. So this would be one example of it. But we're already out at the Hinterland Playground, the Rupert Street Community House. Yeah, so some of those bigger ones. Oh, sorry. The next one will be the roundabout- Croynoosa Road. Croynoosa Road and Beckmans Road. That's 100% funded by state government, not by council. So the risk for council there is very low. A lot of the other stuff in the capital program is also based on historical amounts, and the reseal program will be a good example of that, which we say we're going to spend,
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00:15:00 doing this from memory, I think it's $4.6 million, in terms of the reseal program. So that's what we buy as part of that contract. Similarly, some of the work in terms of gravel re-sheeting, we have a budget that we bill to that, or re-sheet to that budget. So I think that if there are new major projects where we're funding 100%, what I've previously flagged to council is they're the ones we should be perhaps thinking about, about whether or not we keep pushing forward with those, or we push those out until the market slows down a bit. And that might be sensible. So our director of infrastructure is already looking at that with the team, about what's the sequence of what projects we do, which should be done first, second, third, and fourth. It's okay for us, for example, for the roundabout at Beckmans Road and Noosa Cooroy Road, if that comes in a bit over, well, it's no risk to council, because that's funded 100%. But if there's other projects that will be funded by council, well, we might push those back. So that's what that sequencing works looking at at the moment.
00:16:00 Councillor Lorentson: And at what point, as a council, will we understand the implications, which jobs will take, will be dropped in that priority, will report come to council? Speaker 5: Yeah, we'd have to have that signed off by council if there's going to be changes, major changes to the program, because the council adopted that as part of its budget process. Okay, thank you. So it's council who made that call. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I just realised, Madam Chair, this is a special general meeting, so we should all be standing. Yes, we are. Mayor Stewart: When we move the motion, we'll have to all stand, yes. Is there a mover? Or any more questions? I'll move it, Madam Chair. Thank you, Councillor Wilkie. I'll second it. Thank you, Councillor Wilkie. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah, look, thank you for the report, Dennis. It's a very good move to combine these two projects into one to attract the interest of a tenderer, make it worth while their effort in an overheated market. Well done on the mayor and also the staff on attracting the federal grant for the 50-50
00:17:00 funding, which goes a long way towards alleviating the burden on ratepayers. As you said, these two bridges, they're identified, they had to be done for some time now. It could have gone on and on and on in this difficult market, so this is a way forward to get the job done. And thank you for your report. Looking forward to seeing those two bridges completed. And congratulations on the way you've consulted with the community, because there will be impacts on their access. Exactly. Mayor Stewart: Does anyone else have to speak to this motion? Speaker 3: Oh, yes. I'd like to just take the opportunity to acknowledge the fabulous work that the mayor has undertaken, to secure the funding from other sources. This is a great message back to community about how much our mayor cares for community and is working hard to deliver outcomes that economically bring great benefit for this Shire. So, thank you, Clare, for your great work. And I'd like to take the opportunity to thank staff and all the people that worked hard
00:18:00 to put this report together and do the work to bring it to this point. I know the people at Clare, they've done a great job. I know the people at Kin Kin are really excited and looking forward to this, the bridge. It's been in the pipeline for some time, and they're looking forward to seeing that completed. So, thank you, everyone. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, Councillor Finzel. Anyone else want to speak to this question? Councillor Wegener: Yeah, I'm glad we're going through with this and not really debating it, because it would probably be very disheartening for the Kin Kin community in the hinterlands if we were going to pull this themselves. Let's continue. Move on. My dad needs to say something. Let's proceed with that further invitation. Mayor Stewart: I'll speak to this. Thank you very much, gentlemen, for all your hard work in regard to this and to Michael Shave and all his team for working so hard on the funding. I'd also like to acknowledge Lou O'Brien and his office, who were instrumental in obtaining
00:19:00 this funding. So, very grateful for them, too. As Councillor Wilkie has said, it's wonderful that you've liaised with the residents. This is something that has to be done. It's short-term pain for long-term gain, but it is very important to the community and will make a big difference to a lot of people out there. So, it's a project that I think is a really worthwhile one, and thank you for your hard work. Councillor Stockwell. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: In a way, it's a shame that we've ruined a really good article for Kin Kin Connections, because it could be the sequel to say, they've put it off again, but we haven't. It would make good press, but I suppose what we do have to realise is that we've got a very ambitious couple of works, and we can't keep on just building the budget and hoping everything will come. So, it is the matter of the overruns have to be considered a budget review. I do think we have to keep in our minds that it's possible that we will have to start
00:20:00 dropping some projects off if, you know, the record demand and also significant factors in the market would mean supply is constrained, means it's likely that a lot of the estimates that we based our budget on may be under. If someone's trying to build a house, the 20% figure is one that's given to me. It's, you know, if we can think on a little, tiny residential property, and you've got a big deal of difference. So, yeah, it is the downside of stimulus is that stimulus quite often a lot of the benefits are soaked up by the increased price due to increased demand and reduced supply. So, I do think both projects are well worth doing and are key bits of infrastructure in our rural area. And, yeah, when finished, it will make the path along those roads much safer. It will mean that the photos along Cable's End Road. The lovely wooden bridge will now be historic, unfortunately, but I have got a few of those,
00:21:00 so that's okay. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, Councillor Stockwell. Councillor Jurisevic or Councillor Lorentson? Councillor Lorentson: I want to thank Dennis and the Mayor and Lou O'Brien for giving us this opportunity to put the hinterland bridges right up there. We spend, we made a commitment as a council that the Shire includes the hinterland and this is just an example of us prioritising the hinterland. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor O'Armston. Mayor Stewart: Councillor Jurisevic, would you like to say anything? Sure and sweet. I'll have an opportunity to get on with it. Thank you. All right, I think that's, we'll put it to a vote. All in favour? Thank you. Speaker 5: We'll just get the two. Aye. Councillor Finzel, are you in favour as well? Mayor Stewart: Councillor Finzel?
00:22:00 Yeah. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Take it off mute. Speaker 3: I'm in favour. Mayor Stewart: Thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, everyone. Thank you, Councillor Jurisevic and Finzel. Thank you. Nice to see you. Thank you. Thank you, everyone.