WITH supplies for major projects coming from as far as the United Arab Emirates, an Orange tile supplier says home-grown businesses are not getting a fair go.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Amber Tiles owner and former councillor Dave Shearing said Orange-based suppliers had missed out on providing tiles for bathrooms in Orange Airport’s terminal, as well as paving and tiles for the cenotaph and Orange Regional Museum.
Mr Shearing said he had provided quotes for all three with no success.
“[Orange City Council] isn’t looking after local businesses,” he said.
He said requests for specific products were part of the problem, with some of the museum’s tiles and pavers sourced from the UAE.
“They’re getting products at huge costs to the ratepayer from overseas when we have a similar product for a quarter or half the price,” he said.
“The museum alone was nearly half a million dollars in supply - $452,000 is not chicken feed.”
Mr Shearing said the council’s Local Preference Purchasing policy, which allows a 2 per cent discount for suppliers in Orange, was not working and architects also had a responsibility to find out what could be sourced locally.
Council corporate and community Relations Manager Nick Redmond said the council aimed to get the best value for ratepayers’ dollars.
“[The] council has to strike the right balance between getting the best price and buying from a local supplier,” he said.
Mr Redmond confirmed the purchasing policy was used to compare quotes and tenders - contracts for the airport upgrade and museum were let to construction companies and it was up them to source their materials.
Meanwhile, the April 25 deadline for the cenotaph forced the council to manage the project, which required custom-cut granite tiles to be ordered by December.