CONTRACTS UNVEILED
ORGANISERS of next year’s Commonwealth Games have lifted a year-long blackout on publishing contracts awarded for the $2 billion event.
Previously hidden contracts totalling more than $137 million were awarded in 2016-17 – including $66 million for security and another $13 million to opening ceremony providers Jack Morton Worldwide, who will also run the events for Festival 2018.
Less than 10 per cent of the value of contracts went to companies based on the Gold Coast.
GAMES organisers have lifted a year-long blackout on publishing contracts awarded for the $2 billion event.
Previously hidden contracts totalling more than $137 million were awarded in 2016-17 – including $66 million for security and another $13 million to opening ceremony providers Jack Morton Worldwide, who will also run the events for Festival 2018.
Less than 10 per cent of the value of contracts went to companies based on the Coast.
The data reveals Goldoc
awarded 26 contracts worth $12.17 million to 20 businesses based on the Gold Coast, including a $10 million deal with Burleigh portaloo provider Splashdown.
Goldoc classified a further eight businesses as Gold Coast businesses – despite them being based elsewhere – as
they have a presence in the city. They included Sydneybased Hays Recruiting and the Commonwealth Bank.
Other Gold Coast businesses were also paid under contracts struck between Goldoc and multiple companies.
International companies were awarded 11 contracts totalling $9.07 million in 2016-17.
England-based PKL Group won the $5.925 million contract to design, supply and install commercial catering facilities in the athletes’ village.
Israel-based Mifram Security, which specialises in anti-terror, bulletproof, riot control and blast attack protection, have a $28,853 contract with Goldoc in 2016-17.
Also among the international contracts were: a $233,309 deal with Bostonbased Acquia for website hosting; $197,750 to Texan social media company Spredfast; $15,229 to Linkedin Singapore for recruitment services; Glasgow-based photography company Thunderlight has a $230,000 contract; and England-based Securaseal has a $289,706.26 contract for accreditation materials.
After regularly publishing awarded contracts in line with Queensland Government policy, Goldoc suddenly stopped last November in order to protect sponsorship deals. Organisers feared Games suppliers would use their success to promote their businesses, eroding the paidfor bragging rights of sponsors.
A GOLD Coast business is flush with cash after securing a $10 million contract to supply portable toilets, showers, offices and medical space for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
It is one of the largest contracts ever won by Tallai’s Splashdown Event Services Qld, which has catered to major events including the Woodford Folk Festival and the PGA Tour.
Games organisers Goldoc awarded 26 contracts in 2016-17 worth $12.17 million to 20 businesses which are based on the Gold Coast. Splashdown Qld general manager Peter Coryndon said the contract was a “major win” for the company, which has a focus on environmentally friendly products.
“It enables us to offer sustainable products and services to a massive sporting event,” Mr Coryndon said.
Splashdown, which has six to eight staff, is employing an extra 42 workers to fulfil the contract, among them plumbers and environmental scientists.
“We have to resource locally to staff this event. We wouldn’t be able to do it without them,” Mr Coryndon said. But he said his group wasn’t feeling the pressure of supplying services for an event involving more than 7000 athletes and hundreds of thousands of spectators.
“It’s business as usual for us,” he said.