RELATED STORY: ‘Hard-line’ budget
A “contingency” fund amounting to $50,000 has been included in the budget for Swan Hill’s new bridge overlay position.
Earlier in the year councillors voted on the 4b bridge overlay option and endorsed it, or a 4b alternative, as their preferred option.
However, plans for another bridge overlay, known as the 9a option, remain on Swan Hill Rural City Council’s municipal planning scheme.
In endorsing the 4b option, councillors asked council staff to investigate what would be involved in removing the 9a overlay and introducing the 4b overlay.
Council CEO Dean Miller confirmed council staff had begun making their investigations and that they were estimated to take about four weeks.
An external legal consultant has been taken on as part of the process.
“Council has resolved for the officers to provide council with the report on what the processes involved will be and costs in doing two things — firstly, in removing the planning overlay for 9a and [secondly], in providing for a planning overlay for a 4b option,” Mr Miller said.
“Depending on the advice that comes back, councillors have put aside a notional amount of $50,000 as a contingency amount if it goes ahead.
“It was just an estimate and not based on any know costs.”
Mayor Les McPhee was asked why $50,000 had been nominated for the fund.
“That figure was decided on by councillors, and councillors were the ones that put that in the budget,” Cr McPhee said.
The mayor said he was personally opposed to the 9a overlay option but would not say what he would like to see replace it.
“This is about looking into what has the greatest likelihood of succeeding and how we will proceed,” he said.
“I’ve got another line on where it should go, my main priority is getting 9a off the table.”
He said it was not clear whether the whole of the community was behind the 4b option.
“It depends on which group you speak to as to whether they support 4b or not.”
