Shire of Dardanup hands back $457,000 for Ferguson Road improvements after project becomes too expensive

The Shire of Dardanup has been forced to hand back more than $457,000 in funding to the State Black Spot Program after planned improvements to Ferguson Road became too expensive to progress. The council voted unanimously at its February 28 meeting to return the money following its November decision to delay planned improvements to Ferguson Road. The council made the decision after tenders received for the road project were understood to have exceeded its budget by six-figure sums. The shire had already spent $135,055 of the funds on design works and planning, but will have to return the grant in full following a decision by Main Roads. Councillors voted to cover the resulting shortfall through the council’s road construction and major maintenance reserve. Cr Mark Hutchinson said handing back the money was not a decision the council had taken lightly. “With these roads, we get funding that covers two-thirds and we have got to make up the other third,” he said. “If there is a shortfall, the shire has to make up the shortfall and we simply just don’t have the money.” Shire president Tyrrell Gardiner said accepting any of the proposed contracts in November would not have been “a financially sound decision”. “With the significant amount of road and civil works currently underway in the South West region, contractors are all flat out and it’s not surprising that the tenders came in significantly higher than expected,” he said. Cr Gardiner said despite the cancellation, the council was committed to delivering essential infrastructure projects. The Fergurson Road improvements remain part of the shire’s road asset management plans, with the design plans set to be used to secure funding at a later date.