Greens-friendly Banyule Councillors Alida McKern and Peter Castaldo proposed and seconded a motion at the latest City meeting to buy fossil fuiel trucks.
A contract worth $3.59 million (excluding GST) was awarded for Isuzu Australia Ltd’s supply of trucks.
Cr Rick Garotti and Cr Peter Dima-relos successfully moved for the additional purchase of two trucks from Iveco/Adtrans Truck Centre Pty Ltd for $961,500.16 (ex. GST).
Councillors noted that the purchase of further fossil fuel vehicles could result in Council failing to deliver on its Carbon Neutrality target of 2028.
Banyule Councillors voted to amend its Procurement Policy to require that a Best and Final Offer process is
undertaken for all tenders.
Whilst voting to proceed with the fossil-fuel vehicles, Councillors moved for a further report which outlines a strategy to achieve Banyule’s target of net zero emissions by 2028, as stated in the Council Plan and Corporate Emissions Reduction Plan.
The report is to include a focus on Council’s heavy fleet vehicles which considers:
• A summary of actions undertaken since adopting the Corporate Emissions Reduction Plan.
• Market analysis of the industry and research undertaken to date.
• A strategy to encourage zero emission heavy vehicle options to market.
• Options to enable Banyule’s waste services to be undertaken by zero emission fleet.
• Options to enable a transition to occur which meets the Council’s target.
• Any other elements important to deliver on Banyule’s Council Plan and environmental commitments.
“During the tender evaluation process, an opportunity arose to expedite the purchase of two new waste collection trucks,” said a report to Councillors from the office team.
“Given the worldwide supply chain issues currently being experienced, this was considered an attractive proposition.
“Therefore, although the tender was for nine trucks, the Tender Evaluation Panel has recommended awarding the partial contract of seven waste trucks to
Isuzu Australia Ltd in accordance with the tender and conditions as determined by Council.
“The seven waste trucks are expected to be available for delivery to Council in the third quarter of 2024.
“The procurement of the two new waste collection trucks available in 2023 under exemption, will be considered under a separate report within this agenda titled Direct Purchase of Two Waste Trucks.”
Banyule Council CEO Allison Beckwith was authorised by Councillors to execute the contracts and to sign any necessary documents.