In December 2021 Council endorsed a budget allocation of $12.5m for the Aboriginal Cultural and Visitors Centre.
In late 2022 a construction tender was released.
Due to ongoing high and rising inflation, building costs and interest rates coupled with a tight labour market, the preferred tender submission was more than $6m higher than the Council-endorsed budget.
As a result the tender was unable to be awarded.
Since February 2023, the City has identified savings in construction costs without compromising the facility’s functionality and design, focusing mainly on building substructure and minor redesign opportunities.
These alternations have been endorsed by the Cockburn Aboriginal Reference Group which has been involved with the project since its inception.