The extra funding adds to $2.5 million in grant funding that Queanbeyan Council previously received. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) has awarded extra funding to changerooms at a sports ground in Queanbeyan.
During a recent meeting, QPRC agreed to put $32,000 towards the women’s changerooms at Freebody Oval.
Council meeting documents state that quotes indicate connecting the facility to the electricity supply will cost $186,820.
The initial budget for these works was $100,000 (based on works for the Bungendore Sports Hub).
There have also been other extra costs for the project, such as developer contributions, additional studies and stormwater works.
While a contingency allowance was used to cover some of the increases, a $32,000 shortfall remained.
Councillor Bryce Wilson welcomed progress on the project, saying it was nearing completion.
“It [the funding] finishes off the final piece in a substantial project, as you can see.”
Councillor Katrina Willis said the extra money would be the “second funding top-up” for the project.
She asked why developer contributions weren’t included in the initial budget (which the meeting documents list as coming in at nearly $43,000).
“This is an unwelcome surprise when other things are costing so much, anyway.
“How can we ensure that there isn’t a repeat of this sort of sum that’s overlooked in budgeting?”
In response, a staff member said “inexperience” was behind the situation, with other projects following different planning pathways.
“Staff were unaware at the time that this would trigger a Section 64 commitment, but we will be working to a template from now on, now that we’re aware.”
The meeting also heard that while QPRC had approached Essential Energy about covering some of the cost, they were described as being “not interested” in contributing.
A staff member said extra money was needed to cover “unpredicted” increases to construction costs.
Councillor Mareeta Grundy hit out about the overall cost.
“That’s a serious question … What makes it so special? By the end of this, it’ll be over $3 million [in cost].”
A staff member said it was the result of increases in construction costs.
“The facility is modern, it’s large, it has a number of amenities [and] storage. The blow-out was unpredicted.
“Construction costs, right across the board, are rising.”
According to the project’s page on the council’s website, the changerooms were designed by Mury Architects.
Intermain Pty Ltd were appointed as the construction contractor.
It also notes that as of April, footings are now in place and the site’s external paths are being finished.
A delivery of structural steel is also expected to start this month.
The changerooms have been funded through the NSW Government, in partnership with the Australian Government, and are expected to be completed by August.
