The move to get Merimbula's basketball and netball courts resurfaced and covered has hit a possible block after tenders came in above the funding of $1m which had been allocated by the state government.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
However club president Cliff Scarlett said he remains confident that it will be built on budget.
The two clubs worked with council to have the plans drawn up and go through the DA process. In February 2019 Bega MP Andrew Constance announced funding of $1m. The funding was based on quotations obtained by the committee and included a 10 per cent contingency.
Council said the funding was formalised in March 2020 and tender documents were prepared so that tenderers could bid on any one of three separate parts of the construction, the roof over four courts, a new slab suitable for a new acrylic playing surface and lighting.
However the tenders received exceed the amount of money available and on Wednesday, June 24 council is expected to debate the matter at its meeting.
The News Weekly has been told that the total price came back as $1.6m, well in excess of the funding.
Mr Scarlett said the clubs didn't want to see any change to the scope of the project.
There has been some disquiet that the clubs were not involved in the tender process and knew nothing until very recently. Mr Scarlett wouldn't comment except to say they were expecting to be involved.
It is believed that Mr Constance is angry that the project has hit this monetary block and wants to see the matter resolved, without additional funding.
