Wollongong City Council’s street signpost supplier has refused a Mercury request to talk about the discovery of a pole, labelled as being made in Vietnam, in a Warrawong laneway.
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Sydney-based De Neefe signs – which supplies the galvanised steel pipes used by councils across Sydney and southern NSW – was contacted on Wednesday.
The call, which was answered by a branch manager, ended abruptly with a no-comment response.
The silence came as Orrcon Steel, a BlueScope-owned, Australian company, revealed its galvanised posts were imported products.
The developments come amid continued confusion over whether the posts can be made in Australia.
The Mercury broke the story of the Warrawong signpost on April 2 after a resident spotted its Vietnamese marking.
Wollongong MP Paul Scully then took aim at the council, saying Orrcon could have made the steel post.
It has since been revealed the steel company could supply the post and quote on the product, but it was not made in Australia.
The Mercury contacted Orrcon on Wednesday and was told the product was imported.
Orrcon’s website also stated the hot-dipped galvanised pipe was “sourced from pre-qualified suppliers that meet our stringent product performance and process capability requirements”.
The revelation supported comments made by Wollongong lord mayor Gordon Bradbery in the initial Mercury story.
Cr Bradbery said the galvanised steel pipe required for the sign was “not among the products produced by BlueScope Steel”.
Last week, the Australian Steel Institute’s Ian Cairns refuted that claim and said Arrium and Orrcon produced the steel used for the post.
Wollongong City councillor and road sign supplier Greg Petty also suggested the galvanised post could be made in Australia, but said domestic production costs were prohibitive.
The Mercury also discussed the issue with the Australian Steel Association, which said hot-dipped galvanised pipe with required air blowing and straightening was not produced in Australia.
The ASA said the pipe for street signs needed to be “fit for purpose”.
How the signpost debate’s unfolded
APRIL 2: Wollongong MP Paul Scully accuses Wollongong City Council of planning to cover up its use of imported steel after a galvanised steel pole, marked as being manufactured in Vietnam, was spotted in a Warrawong laneway.
APRIL 2: Wollongong lord mayor Gordon Bradbery says required steel “not among the products produced by BlueScope”.
APRIL 4: Wollongong City councillor, and road sign supplier, Greg Petty says manufacture of posts could happen in Australia.
APRIL 7: The nation’s steel institute says steel needed to make the posts was produced in Australia.
APRIL 13: Orrcon Steel confirms hot-dipped galvanised posts are an imported product; Australian Steel Association states the “fit-for-purpose” product can’t be made domestically.
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
