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Welcome to Canberra, where poster silos cost thirty grand

One of the new silos on University Avenue.

Liberal MLA Alistair Coe has uncovered the price tags plastered to our city’s poster silos with horse glue and they’re pretty darn hefty.

Back in May Alistair asked the Chief Minister and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services Jon Stanhope about the silos.

The Liberal Party have kindly reproduced both the questions and the response they received from Stanhope:

Bill posting silos

1) Regarding the number of concrete bill posting silos:

a) How many have been erected in this financial year to-date and where are they located?

b) How many are planned for the remainder of the year and where will they be located?

c) How many will be erected in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 and where will they be located?

d) What is the total cost of per silo broken down by production/procurement, transportation and installation?

e) What budget line-item does the program fall under?

f)  What is the total cost of the program?

Alistair Coe MLA

31 May 2010

Minister for Territory and Municipal Services:

The answer to the Member’s question is as follows:

a) As at 2 June 2010, four silos have been installed at Yerrabi Pond skate park (Gungahlin), Charnwood shopping centre, Hawker local shops and Jamison Centre. Artwork panels are programmed to be added to the silos (in situ) in June 2010.

b) Another fifteen silos are programmed for installation during June 2010. These silos will be located at the Canberra City Centre, Emu Bank Foreshore (Belconnen), Dickson shopping centre (two silos), Gungahlin Town Centre, Lyneham and Florey local shops, Kippax, Kingston, Cooleman Court (Weston), Mawson, Kambah and Manuka shopping centres, Tuggeranong and Woden Town Centres.

c) There is no specific funding for additional silos in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012.

d) Total production costs (including moulds and artwork) for 18 concrete silos is $132,480 excluding GST.  The production cost per silo is $7,360 (excluding GST).  The production cost for the one higher quality, stainless steel silo for the City Centre is $25,300 excluding GST.
Procurement, design and project management costs for the 19 silos is a total of $84,131 excluding GST or $4,328 per silo excluding GST.  Costs for transportation and installation (including construction of silo footings) of 19 silos is $123,190 excluding GST or $6,483 per silo.

e) Third Appropriation 2009-10 Budget (2009-10 Budget Paper No. 4, p74).

f) Total budget allocated for all procurement, project management, design, construction and installation of the 19 silos is $400,000.  The final cost will be known on completion of the project.

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One Response to Welcome to Canberra, where poster silos cost thirty grand

James King says: 19 July 2010 at 3:29 pm

I think that Mr Coe is spot on in highlighting this issue.
Yes, there’s nothing wrong with the Government providing this type of structure for use by the community. But what is outrageous is the cost. Almost $40,000 for silo which comprises 3 sheets of stainless steel? The procurement practices of the ACT Government obvsiouly need an urgent overhaul. Further more, the location (just outside the ANU) hasn’t really been thought through as there are already plenty of poster silos scattered throughout the ANU.
Unfortunately it’s these apparently small expenses (although $400,000 is not small) that add up and cost us millions – but what what value to the community?
Good on Mr Coe and the Liberals for exposing this waste.

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