By Alexandra Falls
THE overall costs for Kilmore Leisure Centre repair works have increased with a $145,000 bill for unexpected swimming pool renovations.
The White Street fitness and aquatics complex has been closed since July for a major overhaul, including repairs to the roof, pool and exercise and change rooms.
The refurbishment budget was set at $1,551,500 with a contract price of $1,277,575, leaving a contingency amount of $273,925.
The project’s hefty price tag made up three per cent of the nine per cent rate hike placed on Mitchell Shire residents this financial year.
Now a contingency amount of $145,000 has been taken from the $1.5 million budget, bringing the overall cost of the leisure centre works to $1,422,575.
Mitchell Shire Council Leisure Services Manager Gerard Feain said that capital works programs normally have contingencies when significant problems arise.
Mr Feain said in the case of the Leisure Centre, metal reinforcing the concrete that surrounds the pool was rusted, requiring extensive repairs.
“When you look at the scope of the works it’s not surprising,” Mr Feain said.
The additional costs mean less money in the contingency plan, reducing the funds put back in the Council’s budget for other community projects.
Mayor Graeme Coppel said while the contingency reduced the leftover funds available for other works, renovating the centre was ‘absolutely the right decision.’
“I think $145,000 is significant and I would rather it was going somewhere else,” he said.
However, Mayor Coppel said repairs drastically needed to be addressed, not ignored, before the state of the complex worsened.
“If Council hadn’t done (the repairs) the community would have retained a small fortune but repairs need to be done when they need to be done,” he said.
The unexpected problems with the White Street complex have also caused delays in the Centre’s reopening.
Members and residents were originally told works would be completed in October but the reopening has been pushed back to November 7.
But this will be a partial reopening, with the gym and pool available but group fitness classes remaining at the gym’s temporary site at the former St Patrick’s Primary School campus on Sutherland Street.
The cause of the split is a large multipurpose hall, which adjoins the group fitness rooms and remains incomplete until further notice.
The North Central Review has been contacted by a number of gym-goers who said the split will be inconvenient, particularly for those wanting to use the gym and then do a class.
However, Mr Feain said the plan was always to reintroduce the aquatics programs as soon as possible before the completion of other works, like the multipurpose hall.
Mr Feain said Council is expecting the final stages of the project to be completed to lock up stage by late December, but said no guarantees could be made.
He said Council is trying to be careful not to put out dates and times that would confuse members and residents.
Mitchell Leisure Centres Manager Helen Milner said feedback from members about the situation has been more positive.
Ms Milner said because people thought the renovation period would be a complete closure, many were pleased just to be able to continue their fitness regime at the replacement site.
Ms Milner said she believes the bulk of the business will be back at the White Street campus by November 7.
“All things considered (completion is) only a few weeks away,” Ms Milner said.
