Event pavilion cost blows out to almost $12 million as council approves pricier tender to ensure timeframe met

An extra $1 million in ratepayer money will be used to cover the cost blowout to almost $12m for a multipurpose community events pavilion in the Goldfields Arts Centre carpark, to ensure it is ready for next year’s Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum. At Monday night’s ordinary meeting, Kalgoorlie-Boulder councillors voted to award the tender to a company that was priced “slightly over budget” — requiring a $1m reallocation of funding in the midyear budget review — instead of a company able to do the works within budget but not in time for the 2026 mining forum. Cr Terrence Winner spoke against the recommendation during the meeting, raising concerns about how big the project had become given the city’s “tight budget” and said he would prefer to go back and look at the project again before accepting a tender. He also raised concerns that the recommended tenderer was looking to change the original plans for the project and still came in at a higher cost. Cr Kyran O’Donnell, who moved the officer’s recommendation to approve the tender, said he would “normally agree” but believed if the matter was delayed further the costs could only increase. “My opinion is we need to get this done as soon as possible,” he said. The motion was ultimately passed 5-2, with Crs Winner and Deborah Botica voting against it. The report in the agenda for Monday’s meeting showed five tenders were received for the project, all but one which were over budget. The recommended tenderer was chosen because it was evaluated as the “highest-scoring submission”, indicated it could complete the works within the timeframe, and demonstrated a “good understanding of the project requirements”. The report also stated that given the tendered price was above budget, it was recommended that the optional toilets not be included. The tenderer also noted an alternate sectional door. Speaking to the Kalgoorlie Miner on Tuesday, mayor Glenn Wilson said the pavilion would be a lot more versatile than “just being a tin roof over some beams” and would be perfect for hosting many large events, including weddings. “While the Diggers & Dealers Forum will be a prime user of this, alongside many community groups and organisations, council is also cognisant of the fact that the project being pushed further and further along does have cost escalations that could be part of that process as well,” he said. “It’s not taking the tenderer that is going to deliver it on time and with the highest monetary peak, it’s ensuring that the project is delivered to the community, as per what our tender documents have been scoped for.” The city originally approved a budget allocation of $10.8m for the project, including $1m from Lotterywest and $3m from BHP under the WA Nickel Community Fund. The report in the agenda stated no community consultation was considered necessary for this recommendation, but Diggers & Dealers and the Arts and Culture Trust had both been consulted.