ALBURY councillor Henk van de Ven has backed a move to lump the remaining stages of the Lavington Sportsground redevelopment together to ensure the project is delivered on time and reins in final costs.
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The redevelopment must be completed by March next year, but is behind schedule after council unexpectedly cancelled stage two of the upgrade _ an amenities building for the additional sportsfields _ also being built as part of the $9.5 million revamp.
Cr van de Ven instigated the decision to rip up the tender for the amenities building due to the underwhelming design presented to council.
He believes combining the revised amenities building design and the major element of the overall project _ the revamped grandstand area on the main oval _ can deliver council crucial cost savings.
“It is the opportunity which has now presented itself,” Cr van de Ven said.
“Obviously it makes it more attractive to the people who will be quoting to have a bigger project.
“But I think it's very achievable.
“We would expect something to come back to us by February and at the latest March for a decision.
“It will then be full steam ahead for 12 months to get it done.”
Cr Darren Cameron, who opposed stage two works being canned, said combining remaining works had merit.
“It’s an operational matter, but I wouldn’t oppose it if it came before council,” he said.
The $1.79 million tender for the amenities building was set to be awarded to Premier Building and Construction which has declined to comment on the pre-Christmas decision made by council.
Cr van de Ven said the original concept drawings for the amenities building differed greatly to the design presented to council for approval last month.
“We all quite liked the concept design,” he said.
“We all thought it was great that the amenities building would be looking at both ovals and really liked the design which had nice curves and the like.
“The rectangular building fell way short of the mark in my opinion.”