Solar panels and electronic vehicle charging points may be installed at the new $10m office for Wattle Range Council in Millicent.


The suggestion for the environmentally friendly initiatives has come from a senior staffer in the wake of the cost for the new North Terrace building coming in under budget by around $500,000.


The tenders for these options close on July 17 and will be subject to a formal staff report and recommendation to the August monthly Wattle Range Council meeting.


Program manager Craig Turner outlined the current state in a report tabled at the June monthly council meeting on Tuesday.


Mr Turner said the budget for the new office was $10,072,641 which included construction costs, contingency and purchase of furniture and equipment.


He said the building works are now at practical completion, and as such most of the budget has been expended.


“As of June 2, Wattle Range Council has expended $9,611,538 which means the project is approximately $460,000 under the budgeted amount,” Mr Turner said.


“The purchase of furnishings and equipment is one component that is subject to further expenditure.


“It is currently under budget by $48,328 and this amount will need to be retained for a period of time to cater for any additional unforeseen requirements once the building is occupied.


“Wattle Range Council may choose to consider allocating the remaining savings to the installation of solar power and EV charging to the site.”


There was brief debate after Mr Turner’s report was tabled with Councillor John Shelton and other elected members expressing their pleasure the office had been built on time and under budget.


Engineering services director Peter Halton was at pains for the mainstream media to accurately report the $460,000 underspend to counter certain social media claims.