Liam McNally
More than 30 capital works projects allocated in Moorabool’s 2022-23 budget were incomplete by the end of the last financial year, according to the final quarterly report of council’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
Although there were 119 capital works allocated in the budget, the council report said 24 projects were either “on hold”, “multi-year”, or “added during the year”, leaving 64 projects out of the remaining 95 that were completed.
“Factors contributing to the lower completion rate included the availability of adequate design resources which delayed a number of drainage projects, re-advertising projects due to tender prices, contractor availability delaying contract starts, and material supply chain issues extending contract periods,” the report said.
Some of the biggest projects still to be completed, include Gordon Park stage two which is expected to be completed in December, Wallace kinder asbestos removal which is expected to be completed in January, the new playground for Darley Park, the Mill Park splash park and Navigators Community Centre renewal are expected to be completed in May, and female friendly facilities at Dunnstown Reserve are expected to be completed in June.
The Darley Park pavilion project is complete, however, council is working with Greater Western Water to resolve the fire service non-compliance, which is currently expected for completion September 23.
The Darley Park pavilion was also one of 13 projects that the report identified as being more than 10 per cent over budget.
The final expenditure for the projects came in over budget by $584,077, representing a 1.1 per cent overspend for expenditure for the year.
Highlights of works completed in the last financial year include the Telford Park car park, stage three A of the Gordon township, the refurbishment of pavilion and construction of new storage shed at Masons Lane Reserve, new change pavilion, cricket practice nets and oval goal netting at Ballan Recreation Reserve, the Harry Vallance Drive reserve upgrade and stage one of the Jonathon Drive reserve.
