MOUNT Gambier City Council chief executive Andrew Meddle “cannot guarantee” the Community and Recreation Hub’s expected price tag will remain at $39.1m, saying modifications to the internal design may result in changes.
Mr Meddle said design changes to the splash pad and learn to swim pool may change the pool-specific $4.3m budgeted figure, which will be finalised in the tender procurement process.
Under proposed alterations, the splash pad will grow to 200 square metres with the learn to swim pool expected to downsize.
This figure comes from a City Council order of cost estimate report from January this year which details an expected cost of $345 per square metre of all indoor pools within the original design.
The splash pad was originally expected to sit at $800,000 with the 25 metre indoor pool at $1.8m.
It also shows and estimated $250,000 for water play equipment and $700,000 for the warm water pool.
Mr Meddle told The Border Watch changes to the splash pad and its disconnection to the learn to swim pool would be “the only reason for the $4.3m figure to change” but final costings for the change are yet to be determined.
“My own thoughts is that a shallow learn to swim pool may be cheaper to build and the splash pad may or may not be more expensive due to alternative equipment,” the chief executive said.
He also said elected members are working alongside architects to work out the “finer details”.
Councillors are expected to endorse the final internal designs this week.
Mr Meddle said the Community Reference Group had seen the updated concept designs, including the increased size of the splash pad.
He said the updated concept designs are not available to the public “as of yet”.
“We wish to release them at the same time following councilors endorsing the plans so they can go to tender,” Mr Meddle said.
Councillors have also discussed whether to use concrete or stainless steel for the lining of the hub’s pools.
Mr Meddle told attendees at this month’s community recreation hub sub-committee meeting the difference in costings is around $5m.
When questioned by The Border Watch, Mr Meddle described it as “a throwaway comment”.
“We cannot tell the difference as of yet as the maintenance is not willing to commit to that figure,” Mr Meddle said.
“The steel lining for the outdoor project is budgeted at $1.7m so the 25m indoor pool should not be that expensive.”
Council is expected to go to tender for both concrete and stainless steel lined pools in coming months.
“I would hope the project does not go over the $39.1m expected,” Mr Meddle said.
“It will be a decision from elected members to make it.
“It may be more or it may be less and will be done once councilors have gone to market.”
Mr Meddle said council hoped to use local supplies and skills in order to bring the cost down.
“We are hoping we will have the final designs in coming weeks before council endorses them,” he said.
“This will be done in confidence because the design specifications will affect tender process.
“We will provide media with as much information after we share the information with key stakeholders.”
Mr Meddle said decisions around the final design, alongside costings of the sporting complex, lie with elected members.
