AN Oberon councillor says he is disappointed with the overspending on two bore projects in the district, saying it is a result of inexperience.
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It comes as Oberon Council says it has allocated $96,421 of internally restricted reserves for the overspending and additional funding required for the community bore projects at Black Springs and O'Connell.
The Federal Government announced $75 million in August last year for a Drought Communities Program to support communities affected by the big dry and Oberon was one of the councils that received funding for community infrastructure and other drought relief projects.
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At council's ordinary meeting in August last year, it was resolved to use the money for projects including upgrading an amenities block at the Oberon Showground ($130,000), the fitout for the new fitness centre ($187,000), water bores at O'Connell and Black Springs ($161,150), raw water reticulated water standpipe and tourism opportunity ($74,000) and footpaths at O'Connell ($258,500).
According to council, as at September 30, 2019, there had been an overspend of $38,061 for the bores and $29,575 for the O'Connell footpaths.
Some of the other projects had come in under budget, according to council, leaving a total overspend of $38,421.
Oberon Council planning and development director Shane Wilson's report said delays in receiving and installing electronic card readers past the grant acquittal date had resulted in additional spending of $58,000.
This additional expenditure is made up of electrical works ($5000), electrical cabling ($12,000), delays in the installation of the card readers, causing labour to be expended past the acquittal date ($12,183), construction of vandal protection in relation to pumping equipment ($2500), construction of a truck water loading area, including sealing ($7500) and supply and installation of the bore pumps ($18,817).
Because of the additional expenses, the construction of an internal access road has been postponed, council said.
Councillor Clive McCarthy said he was disappointed with the overspend.
"It gets down to the inexperience of staff overseeing these projects," he said.
"But in saying that, these infrastructure projects would not have been completed by council in at least 15 years.
"The Drought Communities Program is a boost for Oberon. We now have the Reef Reserve upgraded, Burraga Dam camping upgraded and a kitchen upgrade at Black Springs Hall with more projects to come."
