Local firms lose tourism tender

THE DECISION by Fraser Coast Tourism to award a $70,000-plus contract to an out-of-town company over two local firms has been defended as being in the best interests of the organisation.

The local tourism authority had asked three of its member organisations to tender for its biggest project of the year, the design and printing of the annual Fraser Coast Holiday Planner.

Fraser Coast Tourism chair Anne Nioa said that while the local companies' tenders were given extra weight the tender accepted was considerably cheaper.

“We work hard to get a budget, pulling money from all areas, and we have to spend our money carefully. In this case the difference in savings by going with the winning tender was the factor which saw them get the contract,” she said.

“It is a very, very tight budget, and the reality is the winning company was simply the cheapest.”

Ms Nioa did concede only three members of Fraser Coast tourism were invited to tender which needed to be looked at.

The district's biggest printers, McTaggarts, is a local tourism member and the company's managing director said it was disappointing to be left in the dark.

Andrew McTaggart said it was worrying the company was not even told about the project.

“I think someone at the tourism board assumed that we couldn't pull the design and printing together and that was a mistake on their behalf,” he said.

“I hope in the future that everyone will get a chance to go for any contract that is available because we all need the work.

“I employ 15 staff and certainly getting a $70,000 contract would have helped in keeping my business moving forward.”