Work on the Gardiner Park Synthetic field at Banksia is expectedy to start next month following Bayside Council's acceptance of a tender from Polytan Asia Pacific Pty Ltd at last week's council meeting.
The project will replace the existing Gardiner Park playing field with a FIFA Quality mark and/or FIFA 1 Star synthetic soccer field which meets the requirements of Football NSW and FIFA Certification.
As well as a FIFA Certified synthetic playing surface project will also include protection of trees and heritage elements, new irrigation system and drainage works, and new perimeter fencing.
At this stage it is expected the project will be completed in the first half of 2021.
The council moved into closed session to consider seven tenders for the work.
The council decided there would be no advantage in calling fresh tenders as the tender submissions that have been received are considered to offer quality submissions.
"It is unlikely that new tenders would provide an improved service to Council and additionally the construction of the synthetic field would be delayed if fresh tenders were sought. Negotiations with the preferred contractor will provide the opportunity for a better result and reduce the risk to Council," the council's report said..
The council decided to delegate authority to the General Manager and Mayor to enter into negotiations with Polytan (or if required any other of the seven companies that submitted a tender for the design and construction of the Gardiner Park Synthetic Field) to carry out the works.
The council also decided to negotiate with NSW government Department of Planning and Environment in relation to the Priority Precincts grant that has been provided to Council and agrees for $514,136 to be moved from the Arncliffe Park synthetic field project to the Gardiner Park synthetic field project and the funding agreements to be updated to reflect this.
Back in 2018, the the council was able to secure $4.5 million in State Government funding for the Arncliffe Park Synthetic Field under the Bayside West Precincts scheme which provided $10 million for community infrastructure funding to help cater for 5000 new homes to be built Arncliffe and Banksia.
This included $4.5 million to be spent upgrading Arncliffe Park and $2.5 million for Gardiner Park, Banksia.
