An additional budget allocation of $41,250 has been approved by Grant District Council.

The allocation comes after it was reported council’s application for Federal Government funding towards the Mount Gambier and District Saleyards Transformation Project was unsuccessful.

Council had applied for funding under round five of the Building Better Regions Fund.

The allocation will fund an updated scoping of works for the project.

Elected members were provided with an update on recent planned activities of saleyards project at a meeting of council on October 18.

Council’s Growth and Tourism Manager Rebecca Perkin and Economic Development Advisor Mike Ryan provided an update in the meeting agenda.

“A request for feedback has been made from the grant assessment team as to why the application was not successful, with a view to submitting another application under round six of the Building Better Regions Fund,” Mr Ryan said.

“In preparation for a renewed application, an updated and accurate scope of works and design is required.

“To prepare this information, a suitable company will be required to inspect the existing stock yards and provide concept plans and a functional design that will be used for tender purposes.

“It is proposed that, considering current COVID-19 restrictions, a quote be sought from a suitably experienced company based in South Australia.

Mr Ryan said due to an increase in the cost of construction materials since lodging the application, the work would be undertaken in conjunction with updated quotation estimates for the new roof, soft-fall and auxiliary items such as solar and water harvesting functions as part of the overall project.

It was reported the budgetary amount being sought to undertake this work would be categorised as capital expenditure and would have no impact on council’s estimated operating deficit for 2021-2022.