The difference has arisen over space for the provision of kitchen and catering facilities at the stadium.
The kitchens were listed early in the project as being excluded from the Carisbrook Stadium Trust's (CST) budget for building the stadium.
The report on the project, to be discussed by the Dunedin City Council finance, strategy and development committee meeting on Monday, notes: "Confirmation of progress on original project exclusions will need closure to ensure co-ordination of the base building and proposed fitout works.
"This process continues as part of the co-ordination meetings."
It said Dunedin Venues Management Ltd (DVML) had completed a tender process with a proposed caterer, and proposed equipment supplier and kitchen contractor, but a final recommendation needed to be completed before the kitchen contractor was handed over as a separate contractor.
Asked what that aspect of the report meant, CST chairman Malcolm Farry said yesterday the stadium design and scope was agreed between the trust, the council and the contractor, and any variations in the scope would involve extra cost.
The trust had been "vigilant" about changes in scope to keep the guaranteed maximum price to budget.
DVML had its own consultants, and its own views on what was required, he said, "so there have been a number of discussions between the parties relating to any changes in scope from the original base build that might incur additional costs".
He said on the face of it, it would seem easy to ascertain changes in scope, but that was not the case.
"In reality, in some instances it can be a grey area."
Asked about the possible cost of any variation to the scope, Mr Farry said it was not high in terms of a $198 million project, but there was not money in the budget to cover it.
DVML chief executive David Davies is on holiday.
