By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
Chinese whispers reveal local producers have been sidelined…
CHEAPER Chinese-made glass has been used on the Municipal Building Project in Dandenong despite assurances that locally-made materials would be favoured, claims a Greater Dandenong councillor.
Councillor Peter Brown said the project had been delayed partly due to waiting for the imported glass.
The project, originally due to finish in December, is now expected to open in April 2014.
Cr Brown said council officers had earlier assured councillors that local products would be used even if “it meant a higher price”.
“I find it very disappointing that one of Australia’s biggest and best glass manufacturers, Viridian Glass based in Dandenong, didn’t get the job.
“We have been told it’s more expensive than Chinese glass.
“We’re told that it’s up to (contracted project manager) Watpac to come up with the most cost-efficient way to supply materials.”
In a loaded barb at the council, Cr Brown added: “(It’s) highly appropriate that all the glass for ‘The Kremlin’ has been sourced from a Communist country.”
The council and Watpac Construction state that a 90 per cent locally-made benchmark is being met on the project.
Watpac Construction state manager Nick Pavlovic said the company had appointed a Melbourne-based sub-contractor to supply and install aluminium framing and external glass, as well as internal glazed screens.
“The sub-contractor has sourced aluminium profiles locally, as well as a large portion of the glass, however some of the external glazing units have been procured overseas due to commercial and technical constraints.”
Mr Pavlovic said as well as meeting the 90 per cent benchmark, the company gave Dandenong sub-contractors the chance to competitively tender for works packages on the project.
A manager at Industry Capability Network – a conduit used to source local suppliers for the project – said a lot of imported glass was being used on building and manufacturing projects in Australia.
“We’re banging our heads against a brick wall on this.
“Companies are bringing in inferior product from overseas but it comes down to the price.”
South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance executive officer Adrian Boden said using locally-made products gave a local economic “return”.
“If the council spend $100 on a local company’s products, they get back up to $20 in rates.
“Some will also go back to the employees who spend it in the local community.
“My problem with buying from overseas is you lose that money forever.”
He said Greater Dandenong was one of the better councils for using local materials.
“I’m not saying the council has done it wrong here. If you start putting the local first, will they start putting their prices up in the knowledge there’s no other competition?
“It’s a difficult question that needs to be addressed by all governments.”
Greater Dandenong engineering services director Bruce Rendall said the council had “preferred, wherever possible, to purchase goods, machinery or material manufactured or produced locally”.
Viridian Glass did not comment.
