Cultural and Civic Space makes up bulk of Coffs Council capital works deferrals

While the pandemic and poor weather played a part in Coffs Council’s $47M underspend, a State and Federal government spend-a-thon has proved a somewhat welcome challenge.

This summer there was about as much cash raining down from on high as there was water, with stimulus money providing a welcome headache for councils across the country.

Joining its close neighbour Clarence Valley Council in announcing budget deferrals, Coffs Harbour City will transfer some $47.5 million from the 2020/21 capital works budget to the next financial year.

While more than $34 million dollars relates to the Cultural and Civic Space, there is still more than $13 million in works which has either not been completed within the year or bumped to 2021/22.

The culprit? A combination of bad weather, coronavirus-induced logistical issues and state and federal governments pumping stimulus money into local economies through capital works projects.

Council’s group leader of financial services and logistics, Mark Griffioen, said it was not unusual to push some projects into the following year’s budget but this year it was significantly greater due to the “perfect storm” of events contributing to delays.

Work has begun on the $27m Wiigulga Sports Complex. Photo by Janine Watson

Almost all of the state and federal government money handed out as stimulus measures came with the caveat it had to be spent within a strict time frame and Mr Griffioen said this posed a challenge in that some projects had to be brought forward.

Using the example of Wiigulga Sports Complex, he said the entire project was brought forward years early.

“That is something we are in the middle of delivering now, however, that wasn’t on the strategic plan … to be delivered for another five to six years,” he said.

“Obviously that takes up the capacity of the organisation to deliver it ahead of schedule. It is a good problem to have because it means our community is getting a greater level of service.”

While there have been some positives to come out of the situation, the inclement weather and numerous natural disasters have appeared to impact a range of Council operations and questions were raised by Cr Tegan Swan at a recent meeting as to how it will proceed given it had achieved less than half of its works program.

Alastair Milroy, Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan, Coffs Harbour Mayor Denise Knight and State Member Gurmesh Singh turn the first sod on the $27m Wiigulga Sports Complex.

General Manager Steve McGrath said Council will have to “have a serious look at what is happening in 2021/22” which could mean scaling back expectations of what could be achieved.

When asked how council would approach the backlog and whether it would allocate more resources works carried over, Mr Griffioen said it was something that is “constantly being reviewed”, adding there were “quite substantial” works coming up in relation to the impending bypass construction.

“You are really talking about re-prioritising the next years capital works program to make sure we can fit this in and if we do need to bring in additional resources that is something we can do,” he said.

“But it’s also about … making sure we have that pipeline of capital works going forward as well.”