Mayor Vanessa van Uden said at last month's council meeting the project was on a very tight timeline. The water supply to the sports facility is part of the system being installed through the new Three Parks subdivision.
The timeline and the scope of the project were the two reasons given by Ms van Uden for the budget shortfall.
The council agreed to bring forward $229,214 from the 2016-17 budget for water supply extensions in Anderson Rd and transfer $278,000 from the Wanaka Yacht Club borefield project.
General manager infrastructure Peter Hansby explained to the Otago Daily Times this week the work for the Three Parks water main tied into the Albert Town water main project and was not part of the $13.9 million plus GST sports facility budget.
Mr Hansby said the budget for the Albert Town water main had been in the 10-year plan for several years, and was deferred ‘‘until the developer was clearly committed to developing part of Three Parks, which is now under way, including the sports facility''.
‘‘It provides for the first section of the ring main from Anderson Rd to the Three Parks intersection on State Highway 84.''
Mr Hansby said there would be benefits beyond Three Parks if the water main was extended and connected to existing reticulation in Ballantyne Rd.
‘‘On this basis, a cost-share arrangement was agreed between [the council] and Three Parks to ensure the water main was extended at full size through Three Parks.''
