Council told: pay your bill

AAP

IPSWICH City Council has been ordered to pay more than $155,000 for work done for it by an Ipswich-based pipeline company.

The council had to pay $155, 961.30 to Bellrise Investments after a decision made by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Dispute Resolution Service.

Bellrise Investments, which has its offices at Colleyville, specialises in major pipe line construction, pump stations, treatment plant upgrades and heavy earthworks.

One of its more high-profile projects is the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project from Luggage Point.

Other Bellrise projects in the Ipswich area include the dairy pump station upgrade at UQ Gatton that was completed in 2005.

The RICS Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) is an alternative dispute resolution to courts, helping resolve disputes relating to land, property and construction.

Documents obtained by the Queensland Times detail the decision made on September 3 by adjudicator Russell Welsh under the Building and Construction Industry Payments Act.

Mr Welsh said the application from Bellrise Investments arose from an unpaid payment claim for construction work at the corner of Connors and Roberts streets, North Ipswich and at QLD Group Stadium at North Ipswich.

Ipswich City Council took control of the stadium before launching an upgrade this year.

As part of his 13-page ruling, Mr Welsh decided the contract between Bellrise and the council was valid; Bellrise was entitled to receive progress payment for the work and the council was liable to pay.

The council provided reasons for withholding payment including a disputed position about whether Bellrise was properly licensed.

Mr Welsh was not convinced Bellrise needed a license and noted the issue was only raised after three quarters of the work was done.

He decided Bellrise didn't carry out unlicensed work and therefore concluded the council had no valid reason to withhold payment.

Mr Welsh also ruled the council had to pay all expenses. The council was given five working days to pay the amount after the decision was made on September 3.

Ipswich City Council chief executive officer Carl Wulff said in a statement that the decision “has resolved a dispute which arose between Bellrise and council”.

“The amount paid by council was the cost of the works performed by Bellrise,” Mr Wulff said.

When the QT contacted him yesterday, Bellrise director Bradley Wood declined to comment.

“Due to outstanding issues we have with Ipswich City Council I don't want to comment on this issue,” Mr Wood said.

“We hope to have them resolved in the next couple of weeks.”