Alexandra Oval netball court tender awarded to local business

Work on the new netball courts at Alexandra Oval in Ararat is due to start in October after the tender was awarded to a local contractor.

Ararat Rural City Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison said Council was pleased to announce the tender for the construction of the courts has been awarded to Ararat-based business SHS Civil.

Dr Harrison said the netball court construction will mark the start of on-ground work on the Alexandra Active Corridor Project, with funding obtained through the State Government’s Female Friendly Facilities Fund.

“It’s fantastic to see local businesses submitting competitive tenders that allow the Council to support our own economic growth,” he said.

“Awarding tenders to local business has a flow-on effect to other local companies so we are really pleased to have SHS Civil on board for the construction of the netball courts.”

SHS Civil managers Jacob and Lachie Hamilton said they were really pleased the business had been the successful tenderer.

“It’s great to see Council supporting local, and I encourage other local businesses to tender for work with the organisation,” Jacob Hamilton said.

“SHS Civil has a strong connection to the local football club too so it’s great that we are able to work on this project.”

Council has recently adopted a revised procurement policy that gives local businesses a five per cent weighting for all tenders.

Dr Harrison said the netball court work, worth $430,000, would include the demolition of the old toilet block, and the removal of a large tree and part of a hedge, which will be replanted on a slightly different alignment.

Two netball courts will be built along with player and scoring shelters, storage sheds for home-team equipment, and a terraced area to the north for seating. The area will be fully fenced and the courts will have a synthetic surface. The surface would be installed by specialist contractor Match Point.

It is hoped the work would start in October, weather dependent, once the football and netball seasons are finished.

Image above: Ararat Rural City Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison (far left) with SHS Civil Managers Jacob (centre) and Lachie Hamilton.