Sayward’s Newcastle Creek Dam is back on track for completion after sustaining delays in 2019 and 2020, according to newly-elected mayor Mark Baker.
But the delays have caused an increased cost to the project of $208,513, pulling the new total cost up to $1,194,726.
According to the town’s latest project cost summary document, an additional $60,000 has been added towards project management, engineering and environmental consultation, $98,513 in construction costs and $50,000 has been added to the project’s contingency fund.
The rehabilitation of the dam was previously set for completion in 2020 at an cost of $1,162,896 after bad weather in 2019 set back the project and had already increased the project cost by $176,783.
Further delays in 2020 – as Sayward faced a governance vacuum after the resignation of council members – added another $31,730 to the cost of the dam.
All financial decisions pertaining to the dam were put on hold until December when a new mayor and two council members were elected.
READ MORE: Sayward elects new mayor and two council members
Sayward’s council is looking to adjust the additional costs by diverting $158,513 from from the general surplus funds and $50,000 from the water surplus funds.