Construction officially began on the Dalyellup Multipurpose Community and Youth Centre site on Thursday as the Shire of Capel continues its search to fill the $2.5 million funding gap on the project.
The work will be undertaken by South West-based Perkins Builders after Capel shire councillors voted to enter into a $12.3m contract with the company earlier this month.
Situated next the Dalyellup skate park, the 1800sqm building is envisioned to be a youth centre, technology hub, library, and a place for Dalyellup residents to access shire services.
Capel shire president Doug Kitchen said the project would help current service capacity issues in the shire.
“It’s a project the community has been demanding for over eight years, so we’re very excited to finally break ground on it,” he said.
“There’ll probably be a bit of a lull now between now and Christmas, but in the new year Perkins are going to be right into it.”
The milestone comes as the shire continues to look for another $2.5m in funding after it was revealed the project’s total cost would come close to $14m.
The shire only has $11.4m allocated for the project, mostly from State Government funding.
“As we proceeded with the tender, we had a resolution that . . . as part of the budget 2025-26 process we will look at alternative methods of finding it,” Cr Kitchen said.
“We’re still in conversations with entrepreneurs and philanthropists, we’re still looking at where in our budget we could potentially make things work and obviously having those conversations with the State as well.”
Regional Development Minister and Bunbury MLA Don Punch said there had been no formal talks for any additional State government funding.
“Look that (more State funding) is a conversation that we’d have with the shire if and when they ask,” he said.
“At this stage we’ve put in over $9 million and the shire have been very positive in moving forward with a tender, based on their assessment I think they’ll be able to find the additional funds.”
Cr Kitchen confirmed the shire was yet to make a formal approach to the State Government for additional funding.
https://thewest.com.au/news/bunbury-herald/construction-begins-on-dalyellup-multipurpose-community-and-youth-centre-despite-cost-concerns-c-16827142
