Undetected stormwater pipe, asbestos among causes of $14m Garramilla Blvd cost blowout

THE final cost of constructing Garramilla Boulevard was $14m more than originally planned due to a number of unforeseen issues. FIND OUT WHY

THE final cost of constructing Garramilla Boulevard was $14m more than originally planned due to a number of unforeseen issues, including asbestos remediation and builders finding an old abandoned stormwater pipe that the government had no documentation of.

The NT government originally chipped in $5m to the Garramilla Boulevard and Tiger Brennan Drive Stage 3 project, before increasing its contribution to $10m in 2018 after further design work pumped the price up to $45.3m.

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Garramilla Blvd right before it opened. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

The federal government’s share was $29.5m and Darwin City Council put in $5m.

But variations to the contract during construction, including the discovery of an old abandoned stormwater pipe and asbestos, led to the NT government tipping in an extra $14m.

The government said fixing the asbestos issue cost $1.4m and removing the stormwater drain cost $2.2m.

It also revealed an old quarantine building had to be demolished, there was more marine mud than expected requiring extra ground stabilisation, and there was “dumped materials” in the mud that had to be removed, as well as drainage issues.

Green walls and stone cladding on retaining walls, and an outdoor amphitheatre, added to the cost.

Minister for infrastructure Eva Lawler holds a press conference at the new Garramilla Boulevard.

The government, in its press releases about the project, including one in late 2019, stated it had increased its budget for the project, but never outlined why.

“The Garramilla Boulevard and Tiger Brennan Stage 3 project was a complex project that has varied through the course of delivering the works,” Infrastructure and Planning Minister Eva Lawler said.

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“While the department undertakes investigations on services during the design phase, in this instance, there were services that were not identified.”

The project was completed seven months ahead of schedule.

Opposition infrastructure spokesman Gerard Maley said it was concerning that existing underground services were not detected during the design phase.

“We question whether the Gunner government can manage any project,” he said.