AN independent investigation will be launched into the Scenic Rim Regional Council’s Gallery Walk off-street car park project after councillors approved an extra $1.6 million in funding, pushing the cost of the Tamborine Mountain development to $6 million.
At a special meeting last week, Council voted to re-allocate $1.6 million from its 2025-26 budget to cover the cost increase for the project, which forms the first stage of the Gallery Walk precinct redevelopment.
Mayor Tom Sharp said Gallery Walk was a key economic asset for Tamborine Mountain and the wider Scenic Rim, with benefits flowing across the region’s tourism sector.
“As a leading tourism destination, Gallery Walk is a key contributor to the Scenic Rim’s tourism economy,” Mayor Sharp said.
“Council’s investment in off-street car parking will deliver benefits for local residents and visitors alike by improving traffic management and pedestrian safety.”
However, Mayor Sharp said the original project estimate of $4.4 million had increased by $1.6 million for reasons that had not been independently verified.
He said an independent review would be sought through Council to examine the processes that led to the revised expenditure.
“Responsibility for these cost overruns ultimately rests with councillors and, as Mayor, the buck stops with me,” he said.
“That is why I have called for a full and comprehensive independent investigation into how and why this occurred, and what measures are needed to ensure it does not happen again.”
Mayor Sharp said investigation findings would be made public as part of an effort to rebuild community confidence following several budget overruns on other local infrastructure projects.
“It is important to me that we restore confidence in Council’s processes and provide full accountability to the community,” he said.
He also pointed to the recent appointment of a new senior executive team, which he said would help address past challenges and improve project management, delivery and communication.
