Question:
Hi,

Given the scale of the works, multiple remote locations, sludge handling/dewatering requirements, transport and disposal requirements, and the need to obtain subcontractor, supplier and disposal pricing, would Council consider granting a 3-week extension to the tender closing date?

This would allow tenderers sufficient time to prepare a complete and accurate submission.

Answered on 11/Jun/2026 11:54 AM:


Thank you for your query.

The tender closing date will be extended by three (3) weeks.

The revised closing date is 2:00 pm, Monday 13 July 2026.

All other tender requirements remain unchanged.

Question:
Could the Principal please clarify the following in relation to RFT 26-0006 NWQRWA Lagoon Desludging:

Dewatering tube laydown areas:

Are there suitable areas available at any of the nominated sites, or on Council-owned adjoining land, for the temporary placement of geotextile dewatering tubes, including allowance for access, filtrate capture, drainage, and associated environmental controls?

As-built drawings and site information:

Are as-built drawings available for any of the nominated sites or lagoons? This information would assist with pricing and planning the ancillary works, including embankment stabilisation, vegetation clearing, inlet/outlet works and protection of existing infrastructure.

The pre-assessment reports for each site refer to the primary project objectives being:

- Measuring and quantifying sludge accumulation across the lagoons;

- Determining individual and combined sludge volumes and sludge characteristics; and,

- Undertaking comprehensive laboratory analysis of sludge composition from each lagoon.

While some general lagoon observations and condition assessments are included in the reports, the detailed sludge data, consolidated volume calculations, sludge characteristics, and laboratory analytical results do not appear to be included within these reports, could the principal please confirm whether this is available and if so could it please be provided to tenderers to assist with methodology selection, dewatering design, transport planning, disposal classification, environmental controls, and pricing?

If the full laboratory data is not available, could the Principal please provide any available historical sludge, biosolids, water treatment residuals, sediment, soil, or waste classification testing held by Council for the nominated sites?

Known contaminants or disposal constraints:

Could the Principal please advise whether Council is aware of any potential contaminants of concern that may affect sludge handling, disposal, or beneficial reuse options?

Answered on 08/Jun/2026 06:43 AM:


Please see below the response to the query.

Dewatering tube laydown areas

Tenderers are to assess suitable laydown, dewatering and temporary stockpile areas based on the tender documents, pre-assessment reports and site constraints.

Any proposed dewatering tube or temporary stockpile area must be clearly identified in the tenderer’s methodology and must address access, filtrate capture, drainage, runoff management, odour control, spill prevention and environmental protection requirements.

Use of land outside the immediate treatment plant site has not been confirmed as available for all sites. If a tenderer proposes to use Council-owned adjoining land or any area outside the immediate treatment plant site, this must be clearly identified in the tender submission and will be subject to Council review, landowner approval, access constraints and applicable environmental and operational requirements.

As-built drawings and site information

No additional as-built drawings are currently available for issue with the tender documents.

Tenderers should allow for field verification of existing infrastructure, inlet/outlet arrangements, access constraints, underground services, operational requirements and site conditions prior to commencing works.

Sludge data, laboratory analysis and waste classification

The available sludge, site condition, laboratory, regulatory and disposal information is contained in the tender documents and pre-assessment reports issued with the RFT - Scope Section.

No further sludge testing or laboratory information is proposed to be issued at this stage. Where further testing, verification, waste classification, disposal acceptance testing or other approvals are required to support the tenderer’s proposed methodology or disposal pathway, tenderers should identify this in their submission and make appropriate allowance for it.

Known contaminants or disposal constraints

Based on the information currently available for this tender, no additional contaminants of concern or disposal constraints have been identified beyond those noted in the tender documents and pre-assessment reports.

Tenderers remain responsible for proposing a compliant sludge handling, dewatering, transport and disposal methodology, including all necessary environmental controls, approvals, testing, documentation and disposal records.

Question:
Can you please upload Desludging Tender Appendix.pdf as referred to in Part 5 Scope. This document we are unable to access as we are not a member of GBAs tenant system.

Answered on 08/Jun/2026 02:45 PM:


Thank you for your query.

The document titled Desludging Tender Appendix.pdf has been incorporated into Part 5 – Scope. The appendix content appears in the pages immediately following the appendix reference and contains the Lagoon Desludging Pre-Assessment Reports for the nominated sites.

Tenderers should refer to the pages following that reference within Part 5 – Scope.

Question:
We hereby request a two-week extension to the closing date of this tender in order to fully evaluate all information and present our most competitive bid.

Thanks

Answered on 11/Jun/2026 11:54 AM:


Thank you for your query.

The tender closing date will be extended by three (3) weeks.

The revised closing date is 2:00 pm, Monday 13 July 2026.

All other tender requirements remain unchanged.

Question:
i am requesting a two-week extension for the tender submission deadline to ensure we can meet all requirements effectively. The new deadline would be July 6, 2026. Thank you for considering this request.

Answered on 11/Jun/2026 02:42 PM:


Thank you for query, this was posted earlier.

The tender closing date will be extended by three (3) weeks.

The revised closing date is 2:00 pm, Monday 13 July 2026.

All other tender requirements remain unchanged.

Question:
Carpentaria Shire Council on behalf of the North West Queensland Regional Water Alliance:

- We are asking for some clarification regarding the pre-assessment reports included in the Request for Tender. Only two reports provided actual sludge volumes (Cloncurry STP and Dajarra STP). The rest provided either operating volumes, design capacity, or current water level volumes. Based on this information an estimated sludge volume can only be approximated; however, an accurate measure of sludge volume is much preferred.

- Is more information regarding sludge volumes, percentage sludge, or sludge depths in the lagoons available for a more accurate assessment of estimated dry solids to be removed?

Answered on 30/Jun/2026 06:21 AM:


Thank you for your query.

The available sludge volume, sludge depth, percentage solids, site condition and laboratory information is contained in the tender documents and pre-assessment reports issued with the RFT.

No further sludge survey information or dry solids estimates are available for issue at this stage.

Tenderers should make appropriate allowance in their methodology and pricing for variable sludge depths, sludge characteristics, dewatering performance and final quantities requiring removal, transport and disposal. Any assumptions should be clearly stated in the tender submission.

Question:
Good afternoon,

Thank you for providing the addenda including the Normanton WTP. We will consider this within our response.

Within the information provided for the Normanton WTP there is information relating to sludge volume and insitu solids concentrations as well as contamination testing results. This information is mentioned as available for the other sites, but the pages that contain the info have been removed. I was wondering if there was a specific reason as to why this information was not provided for the previous sites but has been provided for Normanton? Sludge volumes and solids concentrations are particularly important for determining how long a job will take, and therefore providing them allows for a more accurate price to be provided by contractors. If they are available please can they be released at the earliest opportunity to allow for their inclusion?

As there is now additional works in a new LGA to be considered we were hoping that a further small EoT could be approved?

Many Thanks

Answered on 01/Jul/2026 08:43 AM:


Thank you for your query.

The appendices containing sludge profiling information and laboratory analysis results were not included in the previously issued tender appendix. These appendices are now being provided for all applicable sites as additional Principal-supplied information to assist tenderers in preparing their responses.

Tenderers are to review the appendices in conjunction with the Scope of Works and the pre-assessment reports. The information is provided as Principal-supplied information only, and tenderers remain responsible for satisfying themselves as to site conditions, sludge characteristics, quantities, methodology, disposal requirements and pricing.

The request for an extension of time is being considered and any change to the tender closing date will be issued via VendorPanel.

Question:
Hi,

Could I please request that the tender close date be extended to 17/7/26 to allow us to further investigate spoil disposal/beneficial re-use options in light of the recently supplied test results?

Answered on 09/Jul/2026 06:39 AM:


Thank you for your query.

The tender closing date has been extended to 24 July 2026 to allow tenderers sufficient time to consider the additional scope of works and supporting information issued during the tender period.

Question:
We request clarification on the following items to support a complete and accurately priced tender.

1. Sludge quantities and characteristics

(a) For each nominated lagoon, can the Principal confirm the measured sludge volume, as distinct from total pond, design or operating volume? Where only pond capacity or water level volume is available, please identify this so tenderers can apply consistent assumptions.

(b) Is any information available on solids concentration (average and range), sludge consistency, wet density, pumpability, or the potential for dilution and mixing to assist pumping, for each lagoon?

(c) If this data is not available, will the Principal accept tenders priced on provisional quantities with clearly stated assumptions, with quantities verified by a post-award sludge survey (for example bathymetric or sludge judgement survey) and adjusted at the tendered schedule of rates?

2. Existing lagoon liners

(a) Can the Principal confirm the liner type and condition for each lagoon (for example HDPE, geosynthetic clay liner, geotextile, compacted clay, or unlined)?

(b) Where removal and replacement of existing geofabric is listed in the ancillary works (Cloncurry STP Lagoons 1, 3 and 5), can the Principal confirm the geofabric type or specification, its function, and whether like-for-like replacement is required?

(c) Is the Contractor required to preserve liner integrity during desludging, and is any baseline liner condition information available?

3. Site access prior to close

Noting that Part 1 lists briefing and site inspections as "Not Used", will the Principal facilitate site access for tenderers to inspect the nominated lagoons prior to the Closing Time?

4. Sludge disposal

(a) Will member council landfills or waste facilities accept dewatered sludge or biosolids from these works, and if so, on what acceptance criteria and at what gate fees?

(b) If council facilities are not available, can the Principal identify approved facilities in the region previously used for similar waste streams?

(c) Are beneficial reuse pathways (for example land application in accordance with the applicable End of Waste code) acceptable to the Principal, subject to compliance?

5. Program and staging

Part 5 states project completion in September/October, while the published decision date is 4 September 2026. Can the Principal clarify the intended program: is completion of all sites expected in 2026, or will staging across the 2026-27 period, allowing for wet season access constraints in the Gulf and North West, be accepted?

6. Hourly rates and expenses schedules

Can the Principal confirm the intended application of the Hourly Rates and Expenses and Disbursements schedules in Part 5 (for example dayworks and variations only), and whether these rates are evaluated under the Price criterion?

Answered on 16/Jul/2026 07:17 AM:


Thank you for your query.

1(a) Sludge quantities and measured sludge volumes

Measured sludge volumes, where available, are provided in the pre-assessment reports and appendices. Tenderers should refer to the Executive Summary, individual lagoon assessment / physical configuration sections, and sludge survey results sections of the relevant reports. Where only pond capacity, design volume, operating volume or water level information is shown, tenderers are to make their own assumptions based on the available information. Any assumptions made by tenderers should be clearly identified in their response.

1(b) Solids concentration and sludge characteristics

Solids data is provided where available in the laboratory analysis results and appendices. This includes, where available, Total Solids, Fixed Solids, Volatile Solids and other laboratory analysis data. Tenderers are to review this information and determine the suitability of their proposed methodology, including pumping, dredging, dewatering, drying, handling and disposal requirements.

1(c) Provisional quantities and post-award sludge survey

Tenderers may state assumptions in their tender. Any departures, qualifications or assumptions should be clearly identified in the response schedules. The Principal has not nominated post-award remeasurement as the basis of pricing unless expressly stated in the tender documents or Contract.

2(a) Existing lagoon liners — type and condition

Available liner information is contained in the pre-assessment reports. Tenderers should refer to the lagoon construction details and structural condition assessment sections of the relevant reports. Where liner type or condition is not confirmed, tenderers are to make allowance based on the available information and their proposed methodology.

2(b) Geofabric replacement — Cloncurry STP Lagoons 1, 3 and 5

Tenderers are to propose a suitable replacement material, anchoring/pinning method and installation methodology appropriate for the intended function, site conditions and desludging methodology. The proposed specification should be clearly identified in the tenderer’s methodology.

2(c) Preservation of liner integrity and baseline condition

Yes. The Contractor must protect existing infrastructure and avoid damage during the works. This includes protection of embankments, pipework, valves, liners and other existing infrastructure. Baseline condition information is limited to the pre-assessment reports and appendices provided as part of the tender information.

3. Site access prior to close

No formal site inspection is scheduled as part of the tender, and a site visit is not required as part of the tender submission. Any request for site access prior to close is subject to Council approval, site availability, operational requirements and other constraints.

4(a) Sludge disposal — Council landfills / waste facilities

Disposal options are identified in the pre-assessment reports for each site. These are provided for tenderers’ information only and are indicative. Tenderers remain responsible for confirming the suitability, acceptance criteria, fees, approvals, waste classification, transport requirements and availability of any proposed disposal or beneficial reuse facility.

4(b) Alternative approved disposal facilities

Tenderers are to identify and confirm approved disposal facilities suitable for their proposed methodology, having regard to the indicative disposal options identified in the pre-assessment reports.

4(c) Beneficial reuse pathways

Beneficial reuse may be considered where lawful and compliant with applicable End of Waste requirements, approvals, waste classification requirements and Council requirements. Tenderers must clearly describe any proposed beneficial reuse pathway in their tender submission.

5. Program and staging

Tenderers must submit a proposed program identifying staging, duration, assumptions, constraints and key activities. The Principal will consider proposed staging as part of the tender assessment, noting the completion requirements in the tender documents. The works are expected to be completed by December 2026.

6. Hourly rates and expenses schedules

The hourly rates and expenses / disbursement schedules are to be included in the tender submission and will be considered as part of the tender evaluation. These rates may also be applied where required under the Contract, including for variations if applicable.