By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
USE PIC SMALL
GREATER Dandenong Council maintains its $65 million municipal building project is meeting its Australian-made benchmarks despite a surprise delivery of ’made in Thailand’ carpet tiles.
The carpet’s origin was discovered by councillor Peter Brown on a visit of the building site last week.
“During a walk through, a council officer pointed out a load of cardboard cartons and said that all came from Australia.
“On close inspection of the cartons, I said to him ’the language might be in English but it says ’made in Thailand’.”
The carpet tiles had been supplied by an Australian manufacturer Interface which, unbeknown to the project team, had to source the tiles from overseas because of a fire at its Sydney plant last year.
Cr Brown said the council’s 90 per cent locally-made benchmark added up to $6.5 million excluded from local sources.
“A lot of money in anyone’s language and 6.5 million steps away from the assurance (the) council was given… ’we will use Australian product wherever possible’.
“There is a difference between the private market and public administration, and if the three levels of government do not support Australian industry, our future unemployed children will not be able to afford even the cheapest imports.”
Nick Pavlovic, of the project manager Watpac Constructions, said 90 per cent of materials had still been sourced “locally”, despite last week’s revelation.
Interface, a 40-year-old company known for sustainable Australian manufacturing, had been selected after a competitive tender process, Mr Pavlovic said.
Its carpet had been required to meet “specific quality, design, performance and Green Star rating requirements”.
“The subcontractor responsible for procuring and installing the carpet is a Melbourne-based company,” Mr Pavlovic said.
“Ninety per cent of materials for the project have been sourced locally, as well as providing additional opportunities for local sub-contractors, and this is something we are very proud of.”
A council spokeswoman said: “The project is achieving its 90 per cent target for Australian content and… continues to be delivered on time and under budget.”
Last week, Cr Brown revealed the project had been delayed partly due to waiting for cheaper glass made in China.
He was disappointed that Dandenong-based Viridian Glass “one of Australia’s biggest and best glass manufacturers” hadn’t been utilised.
He said the project’s building phase, which was originally due to finish this month, has been extended to the end of January.
The council stated its staff would move in on time on 17 March with a formal opening in April.
