QUESTIONS asked during the City of Swan’s November meeting revealed the cost to build the Bells Lookout had ballooned past the original budget.

The state government allocated $800,000 to the project but it has since ballooned to a total project cost of $1.259 million.

On November 12, Brigadoon resident Karen Mowat asked the City of Swan to confirm if the project was now incurring costs above the amount received in grant funding.

The city confirmed that the project cost now exceeded the original cost and will self-fund the additional costs following an unsuccessful application to the WA planning committee for additional funding.

$459,000 will be allocated to the project from municipal funds.

Bells Lookout works begin amid parking concerns (Echo News, August 15) reported an updated design would include 11 parking bays, which residents at the time said wouldn’t meet demand.

According to the City of Swan, they would now address resident safety concerns about roadside parking by installing guideposts near the entrance to prevent roadside parking on Campersic Road and maintain clear sightlines.

Additionally, the city revealed the final cost to build the Brigadoon Playspace was $619,000.

The developer contributed $200,000 for the play space to be provided in the design, with the remaining $419,000 to be funded through municipal funds.

The City of Swan manages the land the Bells Rapid Lookout tower is situated on through a management order they hold over the land.

The state owns the land for the purposes of “recreation” and the city said they had no intention to request transfer of ownership.