Cost blowout bogs oval drainage project

A PLAN to improve drainage at Winchelsea’s main oval has returned to the backburner after an unforeseen cost blowout.

Surf Coast Shire council had planned to deliver an irrigation and drainage upgrade for the Eastern Reserve Oval by mid-this year, but now has no timeline on the project after a miscalculation for project costs.

The council will instead focus on a similar project at Mount Moriac Oval after discovering it would not have enough cash to complete both projects.

The shire had allocated $500,000 for the delivery of both upgrades from a round of the federal government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure fund last year, but latest cost estimates revealed a price tag of nearly $700,000.

A council report blamed COVID-19 impacts related to building materials and project backlogs for the underestimate of approximately $190,000.

Council officers will use its money to ensure the Mount Moriac plan is finished this year and explore different funding avenues for Winchelsea’s oval, following a council vote.

Winchelsea Ward councillor Heather Wellington was the lone vote against the decision, which she said was “ordinarily disappointing” for the Winchelsea community including its football and cricket clubs.

“This is asking me to preference one important project in the ward over another, I think that’s not fair,” she said.

The council indicated it would continue discussions with the Eastern Reserve committee of management and its user groups about exploring future funding opportunities for the drainage project.