Decmil hits Port Hedland with $5.2m claim over community centre opened by David Templeman, Peter Carter

Engineering and contracting group Decmil has hit the Port Hedland town council with a Supreme Court action over a community centre opened with much fanfare last dry season. Decmil claims the Town of Port Hedland should pay it $5.2 million in damages, plus interest, for the local authority’s alleged breach of a contract signed in January 2022. The Osborne Park-based group won the $18.1m mandate to build a new tilt-up concrete community and sporting centre on land formerly occupied by Port Hedland Turf Club buildings. Port Hedland Community Centre was built in 2022 and early 2023 as part of a schedule designed not to interrupt the dry season horse racing on the adjoining race track. The building officially opened in May last year ahead of the first dry season race by Port Hedland mayor Peter Carter and WA Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman. The total cost was put at $19.5m by the local authority, with $10m coming from WA taxpayers. It is understood Decmil’s $5.2m claim is in addition to the January 2022 contract’s headline sum of $18.1m, which has been paid by the Town of Port Hedland.