Tumbarumba Caravan Park Redevelopment Project Moving Forward

Published on 20 July 2018

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Works to complete stage one of the Tumbarumba Caravan Park Redevelopment project are set to continue with the aim of obtaining a full certificate of occupancy for the accommodation units by December this year.

Works to be completed on the accommodation units (stage one) comprise the delivery of final infrastructure and landscaping for the units, including access roads, storm water, car parking and two camp kitchens.

Stage one works already completed include the erection and construction of 17 transportable accommodation units, incorporating heating, cooling and fire safety measures, unit sewer and water works, and major earth works for the units.

Snowy Valleys Council General Manager Matthew Hyde said the works already completed enabled Council to gain temporary occupancy approvals back in February 2018.

“While we experienced some early setbacks we were pleased to be able to have the accommodation ready and available for occupation to cater for the Tumbafest weekend”, Mr Hyde said.

A total budget of $2.2 million was estimated when the Caravan park masterplan was initially conceptualized back in early 2016.  The project was split into two work stages – stage one (accommodation units) estimating to cost around $1.4 million and stage two (Caravan Park upgrades) estimated at just over $800,000. 

One million dollars of funding was sourced from a Federal Government Grant (Dept. of Infrastructure & Regional Development) with the balance being funded by Council.

Mr Hyde said the reality of the project scope was that the initial estimated conceptual budget was never going to cover the actual costs related to the works defined.

“While the conceptual budget was estimated at $1.4 million the reality is that it will cost an estimated $2.2 million to deliver the finished stage one project”, Mr Hyde said.

At the Ordinary Meeting in April this year, Council endorsed the reallocation of stage two funding ($818,500) to complete the stage one works.

Council’s Director Assets and Infrastructure Matt Christensen said that it was important to suspend the works when the initial allocation of $1.4 million was depleted.

“It was important to slow up and reevaluate the project to ensure we could deliver what was planned in stage one without overspending,” Mr Christensen said.

Mr Christensen explained, “Unfortunately upfront early planning wasn’t sufficient to predict the whole of project costs and combining the budgets of both stages into stage one will ensure that necessary works can be completed for the units to gain a full certificate of occupancy and comply with the DA”.

Mr Christensen said Council would not be allocating further funding and will be seeking alternative funding options to undertake stage two.

“Council is already actively talking to funding agencies including State and Federal Government,” Mr Christensen said.

The redevelopment of the existing caravan park (stage two) includes refurbishment of existing amenities, landscaping, new entry and reception area, bbqs and playground, has been re-estimated at $1.8 million.

“We will be reviewing the stage two project to investigate opportunities to reduce estimated costs where possible including changing construction methodologies and project delivery models before going out to tender,” Mr Christensen said.

Council will begin by re-tendering for the stage one camp kitchens with a view to achieving a better price and are aiming to have stage one fully completed before Christmas this year.

For more information on the Tumbarumba Caravan Park Redevelopment Project please contact Council Director Assets and Infrastructure Matt Christensen on 6941 2555