CENTRAL Highlands Water has defended a decision not to tender the construction of a new pipe to Lake Wendouree.
The pipe, which connects the Ballarat West Bore to the lake, cost $1.3 million and was built by local company Pipecon.
Yesterday, Premier John Brumby was in town to turn on the tap, celebrating it's successful completion.
But Opposition spokesman John Vogels said in parliament recently that not everyone was happy about the project.
''It appears that in the government's haste to get their project under way and to look as if it is doing something it has breached the proper tendering processes,'' he said.
''Local civil construction firms have quite rightly expressed their anger that this project was not put out to tender.
''The proper tender process has seemingly been disregarded.''
Water Minister Tim Holding has responded, saying although the procurement policy required contracts greater than $200,000 be open to tender, the CHW managing director could provide an exemption and select a contractor from the water authority's preferred contractor register.
CHW managing director Neil Brennan said Pipecon was selected off CHW's preferred contractor register and engineering services were provided by their preferred engineering service provider.
''It's not as if we've just plucked someone, there's a fairly rigorous process we go through and that's open to audit by the auditor general,'' he said.
''To be on this register, contractors must have the required insurance, quality and OHS systems, and track record in delivery of materials and construction projects.
''The preferred contractor had satisfactorily completed previous work on Ballarat West and lake-related projects for the City of Ballarat and CHW.''
He said CHW always tried to ensure contractors were local.
''We try to, where we can, and it's part of government policy to get supplies locally where we can and if the skills are there,'' he said.
''. . . from the board's point of view, it was imperative to get that project in and running quickly, particularly since we were in winter and wanted to capture spring rains and benefit what we were doing with ground water.''
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