A BOMBER and glider inspired roof design planned for a new visitor information centre has been rejected.
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That stunned its proponents Tocumwal pair Tove Heaney, who designed the building, and Sharon Dennis, who researched the concept.
"We were gobsmacked that it wasn't (on the list)," Ms Dennis said.
"The fact we've been left off as a choice is gut-wrenching for us."
Ms Dennis said the entry followed firsthand community feedback from those who wanted a symbolic structure.
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"The roof design does represent a Liberator bomber and from the back end it represents a glider," she said referring to Tocumwal's World War II and recreational aviation ties.
Berrigan Council general manager Rowan Perkins said every other tender submission had been included in the four subject to the survey.
"Why that one was left off is because they didn't make the budget criteria of the tender," he said.
"Superficially they did meet that, but there was no internal fit out, there was no electrical, no kitchen, no anything, plumbing was only roughed in, by the time we made an allowance (for those costs) it was going to exceed our resources.
"We think it would have been more misleading if we put it out and then said 'sorry we can't accept that one'."
Ms Dennis said she believed there was "wriggle room" on the tender and her design would have been able to meet the $1.6 to $1.8 million budget.
She said the council had made assumptions about the design and she was disappointed "because we expected and accepted that the fate of our design was up to the community".
Tocumwal Chamber of Commerce president Sergio Redegalli was also annoyed the aviation design was not put out for feedback.
Shire residents and ratepayers have until July 7 to vote for their preferred design among the four listed.
Mr Perkins hopes a recommendation for the preferred design can then go to next month's council meeting.
