Naracoorte Lucindale ratepayers could be forced to fork out an undisclosed amount above the council’s $268,000 budget for a creek project designed, in part, to improve the town’s appearance and amenity.

The final cost of installing three weirs along the Naracoorte Creek remains confidential, with the council saying the figure cannot be released until contracts with the two successful contractors are signed.

Cr Craig McGuire lodged a motion calling on the council not to progress with the Naracoorte Creek weir project, citing concerns about its cost, processes, and lack of public transparency.

Cr McGuire’s motion was put into confidence at the August meeting.

He tried to bring the motion out of confidence, but it is understood this did not happen due to meeting procedures.

“We are not in tune with what the public expect or need, and this is another perfect example,” Cr McGuire said after the meeting.

“I cannot wait for the full costings to come out for the community to see how much money we have spent for this project.”

The council allocated $250,000 in its 2024-25 budget to install two new weirs and replace an existing weir.

Responding to questions from this newspaper, council CEO Kelly Westell said the project was later carried forward into 2025-26, with an incremental budget increase to $268,000.

“In February 2024, council was advised the weir project would not be delivered in that financial year. The project budget was then carried forward to 2024/25,” Ms Westell said.

She said in July 2024, the then director Infrastructure and Services provided an update to the Strategic Asset and Planning Committee confirming the weir design was being reassessed.

“This led to the project being carried forward again into 2025/26, with only an incremental budget increase to $268,000.”

However, tenders for the work were not released until June and closed on July 10, 2026 after the project budget had already been adopted.

Ms Westell did not disclose the revised cost but said the council could fund the project without borrowing money.

“Council has capacity to fund this project without borrowings and, as always, administration will seek to identify any savings across the capital works budget,” Ms Westell said.

The project’s costs remain subject to a confidentiality order while contracts are finalised.

Two contractors are expected to undertake the work, with Rubicon Water manufacturing and supplying the infrastructure and Hamlyn Wilson Pty Ltd responsible for the earthworks and installation.

The council said the original budget did not include the required civil or earthworks for the project.

Designs completed in 2022 consisted of 10 earthen weirs, but further reviews and modelling in 2024 recommended increasing the height of three weirs and changing four of the earthen structures to concrete weirs with drop-down gates.

The three weirs now proposed are designed to retain water, with one replacing an existing structure and the other two to be installed at new locations.

The council had been engaging with a weir supplier in 2024, but the supplier withdrew its offer late that year.

The council then sought prices from alternative suppliers and approved further structural design work in January 2025.

Ms Westell said the project formed part of the 2020 Naracoorte Creek and Creekwalk Master Plan and successive council strategic plans.

The master plan includes projects intended to “improve water flow and community amenity” along the creek, which the council considers a town asset.

It also identifies improved amenity through water retention, vegetation restoration, weed management, tourism and economic benefits, cultural and environmental benefits, educational opportunities and a stronger social connection with the creek.

“All councils seek to undertake projects to enhance the amenity of their areas and need to balance the cost in doing so with all of the other projects and services desired and needed by the community,” Ms Westell said.

Cr McGuire publicly raised his concerns in a letter published by Naracoorte News on August 19, arguing the community should know what it would receive and how much it would cost before work began.

“I am very concerned about what the cost of this is going to end up being for ratepayers. Potentially this isn’t going to be the same price we told you it would be,” he wrote.

“When projects that have been out for consultation change considerably, in structure and or cost, I would expect another open debate in the chamber and possibly going back to the community for consultation.”

Cr McGuire said his motion was to scrap the project, at least until the revised proposal could be returned to the community for further consultation.

“You should know what the final product will be and you should know how much it will cost before we start a project of this size,” he wrote.

However, Ms Westell says the council is of the view that the project has undergone planning and consultation over several years and should proceed.

She said numerous reports on the weirs and water movement within the creek had been presented during the past decade.

“Independent reviews and modelling undertaken by Water Technology in 2022 and 2024 guided decisions about the type and placement of the weirs.”

The council could not say how many weeks each year the creek would retain water, citing rainfall, creek flow, evaporation and natural seepage and groundwater flows as variables.

Ms Westell said the proposed weirs being installed could be automated or opened remotely to manage peak flows based on weather forecasts and warnings.

“The retention of water could help the natural environment and vegetation growth,” she said.

Ms Westell said tender matters were considered in confidence under the Local Government Act.