A planned upgrade to the visitors information centre at Echo Point has been put on the backburner after none of the quotes came in under budget.
Seven companies originally tendered for the project but all were too expensive and rejected by councillors at their May meeting.
They authorised the general manager to negotiate to see if any bids could be brought closer to the budget. These negotiations were unsuccessful.
The closest the GM came was within 13 per cent of the original cost estimate. Not only was that outside the 10 per cent threshold approved by council, entering such a contract also put at risk contingencies which might arise during construction, councillors were warned.
Council received a $3 million National Stronger Regions Fund grant for stage one of the project, which would include interactive information displays, an outdoor gathering area and an extended concrete viewing platform.
The federal government has been told of and accepted the potential delay to the project. The grant is believed to be on the table until mid-2020.
Council officers will now look at alternative options and report back as soon as practicable.
