Five shortlisted for possible events centre build

Five firms – including Northland’s Kerr Construction – have been shortlisted to put their design-build ideas forward for a proposed $16 million multi-purpose regional events centre at Whangarei’s Okara Park.

A joint Northland Regional-Whangarei District Council steering group has shortlisted five firms from the 14 which filed expressions of interest for the project recently.

The Regional Council has agreed to fund a $13 million capped stake in the proposed centre – subject to conditions – and the Whangarei District Council a $3 million share.

Regional Council Chief Executive Officer Ken Paterson says the four-member steering group - Whangarei Mayor Stan Semenoff, District Council CEO Mark Simpson, NRC Chairman Mark Farnsworth and himself – was pleased with both the level of interest and high calibre of contractors.

The five companies that had been shortlisted were (in no particular order):

* Whangarei-based Kerr Construction
* Mt Eden-based NZ Strong
* Ebert Construction (which operates nationally from regional offices in Wellington and Auckland)
* Manukau City-based Hawkins Construction
* East Tamaki-based Argon Construction

 

Firms were short-listed on a variety of criteria including their experience, ability to complete a project on time and on budget and the strength of their financial position.

Mr Paterson says those who had filed expressions of interest had been advised of the outcome this week and shortlisted companies would now be invited to submit proposals outlining the facility they could provide with the $16 million available.

“By the end of September/early October we should know exactly what we should be able to get for our money and – provided everything stacks up financially – we’ll also have a firm indication of the likely timetable should we proceed to actual construction.”

Mr Paterson says regardless of which firm was ultimately awarded the contract, initial indications were that at least 10 Northland companies were also potentially in the running to work on the proposed centre as a possible supplier or in a subcontracting role.