Cost of lighting at Mount Barker’s regional sports hub to cost $50k more than initially expected
First it was the removal of centuries-old trees. Then a $70,000 mistake in the size of soccer pitches. Now, the cost to install lighting at Mount Barker’s troubled regional sports hub has blown out by almost $50,000.
Adelaide Hills
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- Community backlash of unauthorised tree removal in Mount Barker
The development of a sporting hub at Mount Barker has suffered yet another blow, with the cost of lighting blowing out by almost $50,000.
Mount Barker Council is yet to officially say what it will do about Greenplay Australia’s increased quote to install lighting at the $35 million regional sports hub, the development of which has been dogged by controversy in recent months.
Greenplay said due to a falling Australian dollar amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of the lighting had increased by $49,795 – to $965,500.
But Deputy Mayor Samantha Jones said the increased cost was unjustified.
Earlier this month, Cr Jones was critical of Football SA and Greenplay after Premier League soccer pitches under construction at the hub were found to be the wrong size, costing ratepayers $70,000.
“We’ve now received two requests for additional funding pertaining to the same contractor in as many weeks,” Cr Jones said.
“Our community deserves better than this.”
Cr David Leach said the best approach was to negotiate a contract with a new lighting provider.
“I don’t see that ratepayers, this council, should be responsible for paying this interest rate – that should be a cost of the contractor, not for us,” Cr Leach said.
“So my view is, take it back, there’s been no contract signed … and let’s get this thing tidied up.”
According to council documents, the change in the Australian dollar had led to a project price hike of at least 5.4 per cent.
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Greenplay director Anthony Saba was yet to hear from the council.
“I’m not 100 per cent clear where we stand with them,” Mr Saba said.
“In the meantime, we’re negotiating with suppliers to get the price down as much as we can. “We’re not going to get it down to the original price, so we may have to wear some of it if they stick to their guns.”
Mr Saba was disappointed in the councillors’ response, saying his company had been nothing but transparent about exchange rates.
He also said the way his company had been portrayed by councillors was unjust and he would talk to council management about briefing staff ahead of public meetings.
“What annoys me the most is that our competition is now privy to what we quoted,” he said.
“But I know for a fact that, when we lodged out submission, that the cost quoted by our competition was a lot higher. They priced it almost $450,000 to $500,000 more than our submissions.
“So we went in to really look after the council and to save them money where we can, so they (councillors) need to be made aware of that.
“We tried to deliver this project on budget, but unfortunately with the whole COVID scenario … we’ve had cost increases.”
In November, centuries-old river red gums were partially relocated to make way for the multi-million-dollar Adelaide Hills sports hub.
Mount Barker deputy chief executive Brian Clancey said the council was now “assessing the available options and the associated implications for the delivery of the lighting”.