2019-08-12 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                        12 AUGUST 2019


9                        COOROY HINTERLAND PLAYGROUND - EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                            Project Officer, Paul Brennan
                                  Infrastructure Services Department

Index                             ECM/ Projects (T1) / Hinterland Priority Playground Design – CAP.WORK
                                  500551 and ECM / Subject / Contracting Parks & Reserves

Attachments                       Nil



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Project Officer to the General Committee Meeting dated 12
August 2019 and authorise staff to call for Expressions of Interest for the Design, Construction
and Maintenance of the Cooroy Hinterland Playground.


REPORT
The purpose of this report is to discuss the proposal to use an Expression of Interest (EOI)
process for the procurement, delivery and follow-up maintenance of the Cooroy Hinterland
Playground project.

There are a number of factors influencing the development of an overall procurement strategy for
delivering the playground that appears best-served by utilising an EOI process. These are as
follows:

1.                       Design Process

The Cooroy Hinterland Playground project will deliver an iconic, nature-based, all-abilities
playground that encourages engagement with the environment, inspires the imagination of
children and adults alike, provides elements of risk-based adventure-play and offers a signature
destination for both local residents and tourists. As part of this there are a number of unique
and/or complex design requirements, including a highly-bespoke water-play area, public
amenities building, picnic shelters with BBQs and tables and a strong preference for timber play
elements.

During the project planning phase in 2017-2018, research was undertaken into similar
playgrounds and how they relate to the site in Cooroy. A number of emergent risks were
identified by project staff at this time. These centred around staff resourcing and expertise,
project cost control and design feasibility, and likely traffic and pedestrian impacts on the
surrounding area. It was decided the most effective way to work through these issues was by
engaging a suitably qualified consultant who could partner with Council to build-up the knowledge
necessary for adequately addressing the risks and provide a roadmap for moving the project
forward. A consultant was subsequently engaged through an Invitation to Quote process in
August 2018 and has been working with Council since. Part of the consultant’s brief was to
assist Council with developing procurement strategies for delivering the playground project,
based on their recent experience and current understanding of the market.



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