The original budget for the project was $1.5 million and will require council to put on hold planned upgrades of public toilets at Lake Hume and the recently adopted play spaces strategy with a combined value of $550,000.

Albury Netball Association initially approached council in 2010 for its pavilion improvements with the blowout attributed to matters relating to the site being the city’s former tip.

The ANA is contributing $550,000 to the project by way of cash contribution and interest free loan.

But the successful tenderer wasn't the cheapest from the four bidders with an amendment to award the contract to the most cost effective option, Premier Building & Construction, rolled with the price differential being about $110,000.

The amendment was lost 5-4 after being proposed by Cr Darren Cameron, who praised the contribution made by the ANA, but took issue with a cheaper alternative being overlooked.

“I think we need to save every dollar we can,” he said.

“It is a fact that it is less than a 10 per cent saving, but it is a saving nonetheless.”

Deputy mayor Amanda Cohn backed the staff recommendation which highlighted Connelly provided the “best overall tender submission” and due to the high public visibility of the sports pavilion it was “crucial” the preferred contractor be selected not based on price alone.

“Lavington Sportsground had a significant budget overrun and at no stage did we discuss abandoning that project,” she said.

Cr Alice Glachan said council didn’t want to compromise on the standard of the Lavington Sportsground redevelopment and ripped up the original design for the secondary oval pavilion design and the same approach to J.C. King Park should apply.

“We need to make sure this facility is good,” she said.

“I have been on council a very long time and I think we need to ensure this facility is absolutely good.”

Cr Glachan also queried whether the program of works could be “massaged” to offset some of the final cost, but was informed if there were modifications it wouldn’t meet the demand of the facility.

Cr Murray King raised why the cost over-run happened and was told the original budget was based on square metres rates on concept plans, but didn’t factor in the “unknowns” of building foundations and materials needed.

Soil conditions require concrete piers to go down up to two metres to support the foundations.