The cost of redeveloping a demolished West Footscray childcare centre has blown out to almost $6 million – close to three times the initial project budget.
Church Street Children’s Centre was initially due to have been redeveloped by the start of this year at a cost of less than $2 million, until builders discovered ‘serious structural design issues’ in mid-2016 that halted works.
Maribyrnong councillors voted earlier this year to cut their losses and demolish the centre, building a new structure from scratch.
A concept plan has now been developed for Maribyrnong Council by Four18 Architecture, detailing a new two-storey, 87-space centre to be built on the now cleared site.
Plans include one 33-place room, one 22-place room and two 16-place rooms – equating to almost $70,000 per place.
A cost estimate for the plans indicates a total sum of close to $5 million excluding GST to design, construct and fit out the new facility, on top of more than $450,000 already spent on design, technical advice, demolition and early site works.
Part of the cost would be recouped by selling the now-closed Empire Street Early Learning Centre property.
An officer’s report to be considered at Tuesday night’s council meeting notes that costs could yet blow out by a further $700,000 as the builder appointed to the original project is still under contract.
“The option of seeking a Ministerial exemption from having to re-tender the works is being fully explored,” the report notes.
An earlier report to the Council in February had indicated a new centre could be built on the site for between $3.5 and $4 million.
Councillors will on Tuesday night be asked to endorse the Concept Plans and give approval for a detailed design that would then be subject to a planning permit application.
“If the application is approved it is anticipated that the design will be completed by December 2017 and construction and fit out completed in readiness for opening in 2019,” the latest report states.
Families using the centre were relocated to Maribyrnong Community Centre last July and will remain there until at least the start of 2019.
