A safer and more secure Watt Rd bridge has come at a cost, with its poor condition leading to variations over budget of $229,548.
The final variation of $63,163 had to go to councillors for approval at the December council meeting because it pushed the value to 27 per cent more than the original $844,518 lump sum contract.
Variations above 20 per cent are sent to a council meeting, and the motion moved by Cr Summer from the recommendation in the officer’s report stated that councillors approve the variation and authorise the chief executive to sign it.
Cr Summer said Mr Harriott had provided verbal assurance that he had not already signed and paid the variation.
Mr Harriott interrupted to explain that the variation had been approved and paid as part of the normal process of the chief executive managing a contract in place for works.
“You’ve already signed it without a resolution?” Cr Summer said.
Mr Harriott went on to read legal advice, provided in relation to the Shepparton Art Museum, that supported the chief executive’s ability to pay variations as part of contract management without seeking approval from the council.
Mr Harriott said it was a separate delegated authority that required variations above a set percentage or dollar amount to be presented to the council.
“You have already done it, we should be noting that you have already done it,” Cr Summer said.
Pressed by Cr Summer as to why the recommendation asked councillors to “authorise” payment when it had already been done, Mr Harriott said the referral was to comply with policy but wasn’t legally required.
Cr Summer then asked to be excused from the meeting.
“I asked a question, I got an answer, it was a lie,” she said as she gathered up her papers and walked out.
Mayor Kim O’Keeffe then had to call for a new motion, which was passed unopposed by the remaining seven councillors. Cr Greg James was an apology for the meeting.
A large part of the additional cost for the bridge involved the piers, which once uncovered were found to be in a much poorer state than had been envisaged. The timber piers were repaired by wrapping them and then strengthening them using an epoxy resin, but 1030 litres more was used than had been planned for.
Walers and cross-bracings were found to be deteriorated beyond repair and had to be replaced with new timbers.
The final variation also included a revised height for barrier signage to gain approval from Regional Roads Victoria, replacement of redundant walers and cross-bracings connecting the piles and an extra quantity of epoxy.
