THE state government has awarded a $9.3 million school building contract to a company owned by the man it asked to determine school viability.
Royce Fairbrother’s construction company, Fairbrother Pty Ltd, was awarded the tender to build the new Port Sorell school on October 6.
The state government is going ahead with the Port Sorell development despite concerns raised by parents in nearby communities that it would put the future of their schools in jeopardy.
Mr Fairbrother was appointed chairman of the school viability reference group by Education Minister Nick McKim in August after the government shelved its original budget plan to close up to 20 schools.
The nine-member group has been given three months to consult with schools on their future before reporting on school viability to Mr McKim in January.
Mr Fairbrother would not comment on the issue yesterday.
Education Department deputy secretary Andrew Finch rejected community concerns that Mr Fairbrother would be building the new school while reporting on the viability of the nearby Wesley Vale, Sassafras and Moriarty primary schools.
“Fairbrother Pty Ltd are a long- standing Tasmanian company who are pre-qualified under the Treasury pre- qualification process and regularly undertake capital works on behalf of the Department of Education,” Mr Finch said.
“An open tender process was conducted, which the Fairbrother company won fairly …
