An artist impression of the sludge minimisation plant. (File photo) Photo: Supplied / Wellington City Council
Wellington City Council's sludge minimisation plant could blow out to over $500m.
The sludge minimisation facility was under construction at Moa Point and was expected to be completed next year.
Initially, $400 million was raised for the plant, with ratepayers levied to fund it.
Councillors had been told in a briefing on Thursday morning, the project was now forecast to cost between $478 and $511 million.
Chief infrastructure officer Jenny Chetwynd said between March and June this year financial reporting began to indicate the current budget may not get them to the end of the project.
She said council was first alerted of this in June and given a further heads up in August.
She said key factors driving up the cost included that it was a complex project on a challenging site, that early budget approval was based on incomplete design and that the council held significant risk in the project.
The primary cost changes were costs that weren't initially factored in, variations made due to design changes and delays, and a larger budget needed for commissioning.
More to come...
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