Minutes 15-12-10 - Shire of Shark Bay

ORDINARY COUNCIL MINUTES – 15 DECEMBER 2010 80
a compromised speed of 4 Km’s per day was used in the calculations for costs. The Shire
grader was used in all costs for the grading portion of the contract and the Shire loader was
used as the machine to do the clearing within the Shire’s price. I would not recommend placing
the Shires loader in this type of clearing as the risk of staking tyres is very high. If a tyre was to
be staked then the cost of tyre replacement would out way any price saving gained by using
Shire machinery to clear the vegetation along the new fence line. The Shire’s excavator was
considered and even though it could do the work, its lack of speed whilst clearing increases its
overall cost well beyond that of the other three prices. As can be seen, all the pricing is
reasonably close but I emphasise that these are approximated costs but I don’t envisage that
they will be far from actual costs.
Contractor Northcoast Malibu Shire of Shark Bay
Machine D7 D8 Loader L70E
Price $5,400 $6,300 $6,500
Grading $4,490 $4,490 $4,490
Mob $1,375 $1,375 $775
Demob $1,375 $1,375 $775
Accommodation/
Meals
$510 $510 $850
Total $13,150 $14,050 $13,390
Comment
As the committee is aware the implications associated with supporting a request of
this nature may set a precedent that has significant ongoing cost implications to the
Council.
The site inspection evidenced issues with the fence line of sections in the vicinity of
the road, however there are a number of contributing factors beyond the
responsibility of the Council associated with the deterioration of the fence.
The issue of a contribution towards the reconstruction of a fence line 50 metres north
from the existing fence without significant benefit to the Council would be difficult to
justify.
The Butchers Track road way also veers away from the fence line and it would be
proposed that the costs associated with the clearing of this section of the fence line
be borne by Hamelin Station.
There is an obligation on a property owner to establish and maintain an adequate
boundary fence and that is adjacent to a public road way.
The current state of the Hamelin Station boundary fence adjacent to the Butchers
Track would be difficult to be described as a fence adequate for the purposes of
which it was originally constructed purpose.
However there would be an advantage to the Council for the fence to be relocated.
The relocation 50 metres to the north of the existing fence line adjacent to the
roadway would provide a far greater area of road verge.
This would provide sufficient room for the Council over time to shift the roadway to
the north and alleviate the same situation occurring on the southern boundary fence.