Preferred tenderers selected to operate metro water services (A/Min)

13/7/95

Acting Water Resources Minister Kevin Minson announced today that two companies had been selected as preferred tenderers for the operation and maintenance of metropolitan water, sewerage and drainage services.

Mr Minson said the Authority would now undertake intensive negotiations with the companies to ensure they could provide the best services.

The two preferred tenderers are United Construction, a Western Australian company, and Serco Australia Pty Ltd, which is already established in WA.

The Minister said that more than 300 Water Authority staff would be offered jobs with the contractors during future negotiations.

"This means that all the Water Authority's operations and maintenance field staff currently doing the service work will receive a job offer," he said.

Mr Minson said the preferred tenderers had been selected from a range of companies after a rigorous evaluation process.

"Some 75 companies expressed an interest in these tenders, with the field being narrowed over several stages to a final field of six from which the preferred companies were chosen," he said.

"Over the next two to three months, the Water Authority will conduct more negotiations and further checks to ensure that the preferred contractors can provide the services and conditions they have promised.

"If successful, it is expected the contracts will be finalised and awarded by early October."

Mr Minson said United Construction had been selected as the preferred tenderer for services in the Authority's Perth South Region, while Serco Australia Pty Ltd were the preferred option for Perth North Region.

The two contracts to be let would be worth approximately $150 million over the next five years or about $15 million a year for each successful company over the five-year period.

Mr Minson stressed that the State Government would retain ownership of all Water Authority assets and would continue to manage the work to be undertaken by contractors.

Media contact: Stacey Molloy  321 2222 or 222 9595