‘Not our responsibility’: Councillor takes aim at Football SA soccer pitch mistake that cost $70,000
A Hills council will have to spend $70,000 after Football SA provided the wrong dimensions for part of a sports hub under construction in Mount Barker.
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A Hills councillor has taken aim at Football SA over a costly mistake that will have ratepayers footing a $70,000 bill.
Mount Barker District Council voted on Monday night to bear the cost of an “unfortunate mistake”, which will require the widening and lengthening of two Premier League soccer pitches under construction at Mount Barker’s Regional Sports Hub.
Fixing the error has been estimated to cost up to $70,000 and the decision by the council to foot the bill has not gone down well with Deputy Mayor Samantha Jones.
FSA awarded a tender to Greenplay for two artificial pitches of a size of 110m x 70m in 2018.
It then provided the dimensions of 115m x 72m to the council to prepare the construction drawings, causing a discrepancy in the project.
Cr Jones said it was a mistake the council was not made aware of until late April.
“This is a substantial project and, in the scheme of things, $70,000 may not be a lot of money,” she said.
“However, this is ratepayers’ money and we should not be so willing to offer it up because ‘mistakes happen’.
“The funding arrangement between council and FSA is dollar-for-dollar and therefore, without getting involved in a blame-game, the resolution should be a 50-50 contribution by both parties to cover the additional cost, whatever it may be.
“Surely FSA and Greenplay Australia have built enough soccer pitches to know what the dimensions are.”
FSA chief executive officer Michael Carter acknowledged a final plan discrepancy had occurred but said the issue was complex.
He declined to comment on why FSA did not agree to a 50/50 funding arrangement to fix the error.
“There is a discrepancy between the size of the pitches tendered compared to final design drawings at the Mount Barker Regional Sports Hub,” Mr Carter said.
“This was not picked up until design drawings were sighted.
“What has further compounded the issue is the reduction of the Australian dollar compared to August 2018 rates due to COVID-19.
“Rates are circa 12.5 per cent lower than the tender date for the supply and installation of pitches of August 2018. We use both the euro and US dollar.
“The financial impact of this is over $130,000 and the maximum dollar value that council have agreed to cover is $70,000. We will now negotiate with our supplier.”
Mount Barker District Council will cover the cost through its contingency budget.