Community
11 September, 2024
Budget surprises for Port’ project
CORANGAMITE Shire Council has been forced to increase the budget for the Port Campbell Town Centre Revitalisation Project.
The project budget was increased at last month’s Ordinary Meeting of Council by $500,000 to address unforeseen service related project contingencies.
Shire manager economy and prosperity Katy McMahon gave councillors an update on the project, which also included seeking a variation in the budget and changes to the art component of the project.
She said the project involves a number of works packages which includes the main contract for works at the foreshore and Lord Street south.
A second works package within the main contract covers the main street.
Packages were also covered for Tregea Street and an integrated art component which includes the design of seven individual cast iron tile pieces.
Ms McMahon said as a consequence of community feedback, and approved variations to the proposed lighting within the streetscape, it is proposed to vary the integrated art contract replacing item three, “whale song light and sounds installation on light poles”, with an alternative treatment that retains integrated whale song light and sound installations.
Parking provision across the town was also revised, with a “net overall increase in parking provision in the town”, according to Ms McMahon.
“The project proposes timed parking for parts of the town and directs oversize vehicle parking to park at the edges of town with visitors to walk into town past the businesses,” she said.
“Angled parking on the foreshore is proposed which will discourage reverse parking and oversize vehicle parking.”
Corangamite Shire Council traditionally does not enforce parking restrictions through provision of parking fines.
With the revised parking arrangements, it is proposed to develop a parking policy for Port Campbell including a review of any existing parking provisions.
However, Coastal Ward councillor Jamie Vogels moved a motion that the paid parking investigation to be removed from the investigation, which was subsequently carried.
He advocated for an investigation into zone parking.
Ms McMahon said the project was “currently running marginally overbudget” due to unforeseen costs which were beyond the project scope.
“For example, unmapped power and communications services infrastructure alongside incorrectly designated levels of existing infrastructure requiring significant design adjustments,” she said.
“As a result, the project is likely to require some budget adjustments.
“Budget allocation is being tightly administered through value management practices to contain expenditure within works packages wherever possible.
“However, the unforeseen costs are beyond project scope and require additional project contingency budget to address the contingencies and facilitate service relocation and redesign.”
Cr Vogels said there had been a number of “snags” with the development of the main street.
“There’s been a heck of a lot of changes made on the fly to keep things rolling along and on budget, and it’s been extremely well done up to now,” he said.
“Now we’ve hit some snags and we will need to put some more funding in to try and keep this up.”
Ms McMahon said the Port Campbell Town Centre Revitalisation Project was the largest single project the council had undertaken.
“The project seeks to strengthen and improve the functionality and amenity of Port Campbell’s town centre,” she said.
“The impacts a project of this scale has on the town is acknowledged and council’s support and stimulus programs aim to reduce this impact.
“The project is progressing with a significant milestone soon to be achieved and celebrated, the reopening of the foreshore to the public…”
Cr Jo Beard said council committed to the Shipwreck Coast Master Plan over a decade ago.
She said the Port Campbell project would “benefit the entire Corangamite community once it is across the line”.
“It’s been significant; but we’re almost there,” Cr Beard said.