The cost to complete the first stage of the Kamo Shared Path has increased by a third.
The contract for the Rust Ave to Cross St stage was originally awarded for $1,872,317.91 but an item at the infrastructure committee meeting on Thursday asked the councillors to approve an additional $629,130.55, taking the total cost to $2,501,448.46.
Whangarei District Council roading manager Jeff Devine said some of the increase issues were out of their control and some relate to the boundary of the properties the path goes past.
A breakdown of the extra costs shows an additional $121,902 was needed to extend the project along Rust Ave from the rail overbridge to the location of a future pedestrian crossing, and $33,819 was needed for unanticipated gum tree removal and restoration.
There was $237,872 spent on changing the boardwalk from a timber deck to concrete beams to allow rock-fall protection to meet the consent conditions and installing a non-climbable fence along the facade of Whangarei Club to meet easement conditions.