Question:
Pre-Tender Site Meeting – Pipeline Route Inspection

Will Thursday’s Mandatory Pre-Tender Site Meeting include a Pipeline Route Inspection?

Is the Pipeline Route pegged or marked at all?

Will the Principal show Tenderers points of interest along the Pipeline Route such as Connection Points, Creek Crossing Locations, etc.?

Thanks.

Answered on 08/Sep/2026 08:14 AM:


Good morning,

RFI005

a) The mandatory pre tender site meeting will include an inspection of the pipeline route.



b) The pipeline is not marked, but the site inspection will be guided by a surveyor over the concept design alignment.







c) The site inspection will include points of interest including the connection points at Peters Pit and Gabbs Pit and the creek crossings.

Regards,

Nadun Wishvanath

Cabonne Council

Question:
Survey – POSI Investigation & Easements

1. Will the Principal undertake a Protection of Survey Infrastructure (POSI) Investigation?

2. If not, is the Contractor required to undertake a Protection of Survey Infrastructure (POSI) Investigation?

3. If a POSI Investigation is carried out please confirm that any resultant POSI Strategy to be implemented will either be implemented by the Principal or by the Contractor and if by the Contractor then implementing any POSI Strategy will be deemed to constitute a Variation to the Work Under the Contract?

4. Will the Principal obtain any necessary Easements resulting from construction of the new pipeline infrastructure?

Thanks.

Answered on 08/Sep/2026 08:12 AM:


Good morning,

RFI004

1. The Principal will not be undertaking a Protection of Survey Infrastructure Investigation (POSI).



2. The Contractor will not be required to undertake a POSI.






3. Not applicable







4. The Principal is responsible for the creation of easements as required for construction of the pipeline in accordance with the Concept Design. Any changes from the Concept Designed pipeline alignment in the final design will require additional survey and easements and will be the responsibility of the Contractor.

Regards,

Nadun Wishvanath

Coordinator - Water Utilities

Cabonne Council

Question:
Designer

With reference to Technical Specification Section 3.2 Design and Construction Contractual Matters, to confirm, is the Contractor able to engage a Designer of their choice for finalisation of the specified Detailed Design or is the Contractor bound to accept a Novation of a Contract from the Principal with Amey Pty Ltd for finalisation of the Detailed Design?

Contract Information Item 31 Preferred Subcontractors states: The Preferred Subcontractors referred to in clause 29 are:
NA

Thanks.

Answered on 07/Sep/2026 10:48 AM:
(edited on 07/Sep/2026 02:03 PM)


RFI003

Good Morning,

The Contractor may engage a suitably qualified designer to undertake the detailed design. Details of the proposed consultant must be provided in accordance with the requirements outlined in the Schedules.

Regards,

Nadun Wishvanath

Coordinator - Water Utilities

Cabonne Council

Question:
Water Hammer Analysis


1. Specification clause 3.6.1 requires the water hammer analysis to cover the entire system from Molong Creek Dam to the WTP including all associated infrastructure. The Concept Design Report (section 2.3.3.6) notes that the OCC emergency supply via the Ammerdown to Molong Creek Dam pipeline joins the gravity main approximately 380 m downstream of the dam wall through backflow prevention and pressure reducing valves.

1. Please confirm whether operating scenarios in which the OCC supply is feeding the gravity main are to be included in the water hammer analysis.

2. To allow tenderers to make an appropriate allowance, please provide a schematic of the OCC supply from its source to the connection point and a brief description of how the system works.

2. Concept Design Report sections 2.2.3 and 2.3.3.5 describe a future connection to the existing high-level reservoir via Watson and South Streets, with the reservoir repurposed as a raw water balance tank. Please confirm whether this future configuration is to be included in the water hammer analysis.

3. Are any other flow and pressure data available for calibration, or are we to rely on Table 2-2 in the concept design report?

4. Concept Design Report section 2.3.3.2 notes that friction losses between Gabb's Pit and the WTP were increased by 16 percent to match observed pressures, and attributes this to a possible partially closed valve or other constriction. Has the cause been located and confirmed? Is the contractor responsible for determining why this unexplained headloss is occurring.

5. Please confirm that the full gravity main replacement in Concept Design Report section 2.3.4 is included or excluded from the water hammer analysis scope.

6. Is the 950 kPa PRV setpoint at Gabb's Pit fixed, or may it be revised based on the Contractor's analysis? Does Council have a preferred PRV type or standard, and is the water hammer analysis expected to confirm PRV selection and settings?

Thanks.

Answered on 28/Sep/2026 09:16 AM:


Good morning,

1. Water hammer analysis for the OCC supply is not required.

2. Water hammer analysis for the OCC supply is not required.

2. Yes, the water hammer analysis should consider this scenario.

3. The design report presents all currently available flow and pressure data.

4. No, the cause has not been determined.



No

5. Hydraulic analysis and water hammer analysis of the full gravity main replacement is not required.

6. This can be revised based on the Contractor’s analysis and agreed by the Principal.

The hydraulic analysis should confirm the PRV selection and settings.

Regards,

Nadun Wishvanath

Coordinator - Water Utilities

Cabonne Council

Question:
Good Morning,

1. Can Council please provide the Returnable Schedules in WORD format?

2. Please confirm the slope grade above which the Trench Stop detail is required and the required spacing?

3. Please confirm the slope grade above which the concrete bulk head detail is required and the required spacing?

4. Will we require any approvals from State Government bodies such as Water NSW or DCCEEW for the small dry/creek crossings on the private properties? If so, has Council during the design process made any initial applications or sought any approvals?

Answered on 25/Sep/2026 02:58 PM:


Good afternoon,

1. See attached Returnable Tender Schedules in Word format.







2. Trench stops to be in accordance with WSAA - Water Supply Code of Australia.





3. Trench stops to be in accordance with WSAA - Water Supply Code of Australia.





4. Water Management Act Cabonne Council, as a public authority, is exempt from the requirement to hold a controlled activity approval under section 91E(1) of the Water Management Act 2000 under section 64(2) of the Water Management (General) Regulation 2025. No controlled activity approval is required for the proposed pipeline works carried out by Council within waterfront land. Fisheries Management Act The creek crossings are subject to survey and detailed design as part of the design and construct contract. The extent to which the Fisheries Management Act 1994 is relevant depends on the detailed design (i.e. under bore vs trench). Under bore is likely to avoid any permit requirement. If the crossings are trenched, it is likely that permits will be required under section 200 of the Fisheries Management Act 1994. If the crossings create a short term (construction period) or long-term obstruction to a fish passage, it is likely a permit will be required under section 219 of the Fisheries Management Act 1994. REF The current REF has been prepared on the basis that the activity is subject to a design and construct contract which will require the appointed contractor to develop the design and prepare construction documentation. It may be necessary to amend the REF prior to commencement of construction of the activity to account for any potential change to its effect or likely affect. There has not been any consultation as part of the REF process to this point.

Regards,

Nadun Wishvanath

Coordinator - Water Utilities

Cabonne Council

Question:
Are tenderers permitted to access the site without a Council representative present?

Answered on 21/Sep/2026 08:51 AM:


Good morning,

Procurement rules require equal treatment for all competing Tenderers. The official site visit on 10.9.26 provided every prospective Tenderer to receive the exact same site constraints and answers to questions. The official site visit was an opportunity for Tenderers to ensure attendance by their key personel. Allowing further site visits by individual Tenderers, may give them an unfair advantage or access to unshared information. In lieu of additional site visits, Tenderers are advised to submit an RFI to obtain responses to specific requests in relation to the Tender.

Regards,

Nadun Wishvanath

Coordinator - Water Utilities

Cabonne Council

Question:
“In relation to allowing for excavation in rock, it is virtually impossible to calculate with any accuracy the quantity of rock that will be encountered. As such, it is likely that tenderers will allow vastly different quantities. This will make it difficult for Council to assess “apples for apples”.

Council’s own Geotech Report talks about the variability of the geological conditions introduces considerable geotechnical variability, most notably considerable potential for abrupt changes in subsurface/excavatability conditions, therefore making any accurate assessment of excavation in rock near impossible. On another page it describes conditions are expected to be variable and could vary substantially from those anticipated based on the bore holes and desk top assessments. On another page, it also describes that linear interpolation between test locations is not appropriate for the subsurface conditions of the site. If the consultant after all their testing cannot come up with a quantity of rock to excavate, then it wouldn’t be possible for a tenderer to do so either.

As such, will Council provide a Provisional Sum or a Provisional Quantity of Rock to Tenderers to account for any excavation in Rock?

This will ensure accuracy and equitability in the tender process.

Thanks”

Answered on 23/Sep/2026 09:32 AM:


Good morning,

Tenderers are to inform themselves of the Geotechnical investigations and reports provided in the Tender documents. In addition to the Geotech reports the following information includes previous information in relation to rock.

Pre tender meeting minutes - As a result of a question raised regarding separate rates for removal / excavation of rock, it was advised the contractors lump sum should include excavation of all materials, including rock regardless of hardness, type and depth.








Specifications Section 5.10 -The Contractor shall review the Geotechnical Investigation carried out by Macquarie Geotech (Reference G24236 Rev 01 dated 4 October 2024) and determine if the assessment of the final pipeline route is sufficient to confirm the potential presence of rock or other subsoil features impacting the construction of the pipeline. The Contractor is to assess whether additional testing is required.

Following the review of the Macquarie Geotech Report, if additional testing is deemed to be required, the Contractor shall carry out all necessary additional Geotechnical Investigations along the pipeline route at their own expense and provide copies to the Council for their review and acceptance prior to the start of any designs and or construction works.

Tender Schedule 2 Lump Sum Contract - Pipeline construction from Peter’s Pit to Gabb’s Pit in all materials including rock regardless of rock type, hardness or depth.








General conditions of Contract - Section 36 and 37 refers to Site Conditions.

Regards,

Nadun Wishvanath

Coordinator - Water Utilities

Cabonne Council

Question:
Hi

The construction works are required to commence after completion of Milestone 1 i.e. after 9/3/2027 as per the minutes of meeting. Since the pipes need to be delivered after 9/3/27, will the contractor be permitted to reprice the pipes at the time of supply since the pipe price validity at the time of tender shall expire by the time the pipes are delivered almost 5 months after tender submission. Specially considering the war in the Middle East which is affecting the supplies of raw materials as well as finished products it is difficult to predict what the price of pipes may be in the month of March 2027?

Answered on 25/Sep/2026 03:10 PM:


Good afternoon,

The General Conditions of Contract includes the following description of Works that are to be completed in compliance with Milestone 1 by the date of 9.3.27 - 'Completion of the design including the period allowed for review by the Principal required to progress to procurement. Submission of all required management plans required under the Contract. Submission of evidence of all insurances required under the Contract' Tenderers are reminded that the date for Milestone 1 is the latest these Works are to be completed by. Tenderers are also reminded that this is a lump sum tender with no provision for rise and fall adjustments.

Regards,

Nadun Wishvanath

Coordinator - Water Utilities

Cabonne Council

Question:
Hydrostatic Testing

Is the Contractor required to engage a NATA Certified Tester for Hydrostatic Testing of the Pipeline Sections or will Council witness the tests?

Thanks.

Answered on 30/Sep/2026 04:00 PM:


Good afternoon,

Hydrostatic testing will be carried out in accordance with WSAA guidelines and the Tender specifications. Hydrostatic testing constitutes a hold point which shall be witnessed by the Principal, or the Principal's representative. There is no requirement for the Contractor to engage a NATA Certified Tester for hydrostatic testing.

Regards,

Nadun Wishvanath

Coordinator - Water Utilities

Cabonne Council