Penrith City Council will establish a panel of experts for asbestos removal services in the city, incorporating three companies.
A tender was advertised in the late stages of 2023 for asbestos treatment and removal services at Council-owned assets.
“A total of 10 tenders were received by the closing date,” a report to Council said.
“Of these 10 tender applications two were from Penrith.”
In regards to the two local tenderers, they were assessed to be below the standard of consideration.
“There were two local tenderers. The assessment of their submissions scored considerably less than the recommended panel of contractors,” the report to Council said.
The final recommendation for the service of asbestos treatment and removal was that a panel be established to perform the services incorporating RMA Contracting Pty Ltd, Beasy Pty Ltd and EnviroPacific Services Limited.
The Tender Advisory Group (TAG) recommended that the selected panel was the most favourable to Council.
“The TAG considered the recommendations in relation to the tender… noting that, the recommended tender was the lowest price, the company has demonstrated their ability to meet Council’s requirements and their proposal was considered to be the most advantageous to Council for the scale of this project,” a report to Council said.
Council spends more than $1 million a year on asbestos removal and treatment.
“The estimated annual cost of asbestos removal and treatment is $1.3 million,” a report to Council said.
Councillor Kevin Crameri expressed concerns over the lack of policy regarding the removal of asbestos.
“Asbestos is a very big thing. It doesn’t get the attention it should do,” Crameri said.
“What we should be doing as a Council is saying to the State Government we need a policy that allows people to get rid of asbestos at a reasonable price rather than dumping it on the side of the road or whatever.
“… Council officers need to come back to us with a motion we can put to a minister or [the] State Government, because this is statewide – every Council has got the same problem and I think that we’re just not handling it the right way.”
Asbestos was in the spotlight recently when it was discovered in mulch at the Regatta Park construction site.
Emily Chate
Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024, and covers local news - primarily courts and politics. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist.