Centennial Pool contract let

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33061, 31 October 1972, Page 1

Centennial Pool contract let

A tender of $478,817 by the W. Williamson Construction Company, Ltd. for reconstruction of the Centennial Pool was accepted at a special meeting of the City Council last evening.

The tender was the lowest of six submitted. The highest was $503,661.

The lowest tender was accepted subject to three conditions. These were: (a) That the Williamson Construction Company withdraw its special conditions of tender in respect of increased cost, (b) Satisfactory completion by the company of the priced schedule of quantities, (c) An assurance from the company of a prompt start to the work and completion by the date specified, August 31, 1973. The council was told that the company had agreed to withdraw its special conditions of tender and that the company was in a position to make an immediate start. The motion that the council accept the lowest tender, as recommended bv the parks and reserves committee, was put by the Mayor (Mr N. G. Pickering). PLANS SHOWED On the suggestion of Cr M. R. Carter, Mr Bill LovellSmith, consulting engineer for the pool project, showed plans. The new pool will be 33 1/3 metres long; there will be a diving pool; two play pools at different levels, separated by a water slide; a water veil and an enclosed learners' pool of 20 metres,

with sundeck and shop on top.

Mr F. W. Shipston, quantity surveyor, said that the council’s contract contained provisions to cover increases in wages and in cost of materials. The company had accepted that. The original estimate for the reconstruction was $476,500. The parks committee recommended that the total cost (including professional fees for the consulting engineers, quantity surveyors and architects) be financed from the insurance reserve fund.

Cr H. G. Hay (Citizens) asked how much would be left in the insurance fund after the job had been paid for. ‘NIGGLING QUESTION’ Cr D. R. Dowell (Labour) said it was a ‘‘typical, niggling question.” Cr Hay: It is a perfectly reasonable question. Cr Dowell said that the Citizens councillors had said that all reserve funds would be exhausted when the Queen Elizabeth II Park Games complex was finished. “On March 31 next year, there will be about $350,000 in the council’s reserve funds. We will have done all we promised and still have about $350,000. So much for the opposition’s fears,” Cr Dowell said. Cr Hay said that Cr Dowell had not answered his question —how much would be

left in the insurance reserve fund after paying for the new Centennial Pool?

Cr Dowell said that by joining the Municipal Association insurance scheme, the council was not only saving money each year but releasing for use insurance reserve funds which were depreciating because of inflation. RESERVE FUND Cr P. J. Skellerup said he thought that Cr Dowell had been evasive in answering Cr Hay’s question. The insurance reserve fund was about $700,000, and about $500,000 would go on the reconstruction of the Centennial Pool. There would be an additional $lOO,OOO in reserves in the land payment account. “But let us get on with the job. There is no use messing about with what is past,” he said. Cr R. M. Macfarlane: That is what we have been saying. Cr Skellerup: I think a mistake was made going to Queen Elizabeth Park. But I am certain that the Centennial Pool, rebuilt possibly to a standard better than it was, will be widely used. Let us accept this tender and get on to have the pool ready for summer next year. The motion to accept the tender was passed without dissent.