The roof is about to go on the new $10m office in Millicent for Wattle Range Council.
Work is progressing in a timely fashion on North Terrace with some cost overruns such as additional soil compaction requirements being matched in savings in other areas.
Most of the structural steel and timber framing has been erected.
The fencing contractor has finished the four spotted gum fences across the site.
The blockwork pillars, kerbs for car parking and the retaining walls for the plant area are now commencing.
Members of council’s Audit and Risk Committee comprising councillors and elected members toured the building site last week ahead of their scheduled meeting.
Program manager Craig Turner was with them and had earlier provided an upbeat written report to the October monthly meeting.
Mr Turner said work is progressing well and is still on track with the project plan.
“Underground services are 90% finalised and the base level earth works for the southern car park are also complete,” Mr Turner said.
“Irrigation conduits are currently being installed and the footings and reinforcement steel in the plant area are being installed.”
Mr Turner’s report referred to other council capital projects and its thoroughness and high calibre was commended by Councillor David Walshaw.
“The transparent figures are there and show how the finances are moving forward,” Cr Walshaw said.
The council meeting subsequently authorised its chief executive Ben Gower with the authority to spend the budgeted amount of up to $1.2m on additional furniture, fittings, utility costs and contingencies associated with the new office.
This sum is outlined in the 2024/25 business plan and budget.
However, Cr Dale Price moved an unsuccessful motion to limit the delegated authority in the meantime to $500,000.
His amendment was defeated three votes to eight.
Mr Gower sought the higher amount as this would avoid the need to perhaps call weekly special council meetings to authorise payments.
He said council had seven days to respond to any possible cost variations sought by the builder and the higher delegated amount authority gave him the ability to provide a quick response.
Cr Dennis Muhovics called on his fellow councillors to have faith in council’s Executive Leadership Team as it managed the building of the new office.
