$6.7m market blowout shock

By Shaun Inguanzo
GREATER Dandenong’s mayor Peter Brown says an original document never showed a $6.7 million budget blowout on the Dandenong Market redevelopment.
Reports surfaced last week on the extra funds council will have to absorb as part of the Dandenong Market’s multi-million dollar makeover.
The increase bring the total cost of the market project from $15.7 million to $22.4 million.
The Keysborough Ward councillor said council staff revealed a $6.7 million increase in market costs to councillors at a briefing meeting on 17 July, one week after councillors passed the 2006-07 budget.
But Cr Brown said the increase was a shock so he cross-checked two versions and noticed the $6.7 million was not on the original document.
“I went back to forward estimates of council and the financial plan council considered when it deferred the budget,” he said.
“The original had lower market figures in it.”
Cr Brown said no councillor was told that the costs had increased between the document versions.
He said he then approached chief executive officer Bryan Payne about the increase.
“He told me it was a serious mistake that shouldn’t have happened,and that any changes should be brought to council’s attention,” Cr Brown said.
The budget blowout is believed to have increased tensions between councillors and officers.
“There has been a substantial argument in relation to the cost changes,” Cr Brown said.
A full officer’s report on the cost increase will be tabled at Monday night’s ordinary meeting of council, Cr Brown said.