Mayor Kevin Mack confirmed the council was carrying out an investigation into why initial geo-technical examinations by external consultants didn’t identify soil was unsuitable for the base of the secondary sportsfield to be completed by the end of March.

Additional costs, including major excavation works and replacement soil, were initially expected to cost up to $2 million, but council has confirmed the final figure would be $3.2 million.

“We are taking advice and I can’t really say much more on that,” Cr Mack said.

“We are taking legal advice.

“There won’t be any reduction to services.

“The airport for instance came in under budget and were able to include the canteen in that renovation.

“Big projects are going to have over-runs, but this was unforeseeable.

“When you dig up the ground as we found out at MAMA things happen and you find things you don’t want to find.”

The total project was initially costed at $9.5 million and Cr Mack confirmed the council had applied to the NSW Government for $3.5 million for corporate and media areas, coaches boxes and another scoreboard in an upgraded grandstand on the main oval.

He also gave a strong indication the secondary sportsfield amenities building and grandstand works would be combined in the same tender to achieve savings.

Late last year, council rejected the design for the amenities building which was altered from the original concept plans.

“When we’ve got a bigger package we can attract more competition,” he said.

“The staff took it upon themselves to change the design and as councillors we said ‘no’.

“The builder himself told me he was comfortable with what happened because being a sportsperson himself it wasn’t befitting of that venue.”

Cr Mack said still to be confirmed construction schedules could see the ground still available for the O and M grand final.

“The Lavington ground will be monitored in the next six to eight months in terms of the grandstand build.”