The budget for constructing a car park to service the proposed supermarket in Cameron Park, Maclean has blown out from $836,473 to an estimated $993,846. At last week’s Clarence Valley Council (CVC) meeting, councillors unanimously supported the transfer of $157,373 from the Maclean & Districts Improvements Reserve to cover variations not included in the accepted tender for the project. This will leave a balance of $805,409 in the improvement reserve – excluding interest earned for 2016/17. Hutchinson Builders was appointed by Chums’ Investments to construct the public car park on the corner of Clyde/Argyle/Morven Streets in December 2016; however, as part of CVC’s agreement with Chums’, CVC is responsible for the design, survey, planning fees and construction of the car park. Variations to the contract include: the removal of asbestos associated with the demolition of a building on the site ($20,900); relocation of a switchboard ($2,310); redirection of stormwater and additional associated works ($57,332); and, works to stabilise the ground beneath the car park ($67,772). The project’s completion date, which was June 12, has also been delayed, in part, due to 31 wet days during April, May and June. The revised completion date is August 24.