Rates & spending · Liverpool City Council
Carnes Hill aquatic centre cost rises $4.47m as funding strategy endorsed
Liverpool City Council’s Governance Committee noted a revised budget for the Carnes Hill Aquatic and Recreation Centre and endorsed a proposed funding strategy in a confidential item.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Liverpool City Council’s Carnes Hill Aquatic and Recreation Centre project has recorded a $4.47 million increase in cost, with the Governance Committee endorsing a proposed funding strategy for the project on 15 September.
The recommendation called for the committee to note the revised project budget and associated increase, and endorse the funding strategy outlined in a confidential report. A motion to adopt the recommendation was declared carried, after Councillor Macnaught moved it and Councillor Ammoun seconded it.
The item was confidential under section 10(A)(2)(c) of the Local Government Act on the stated basis that disclosure could confer a commercial advantage on a person with whom the council was conducting, or proposed to conduct, business.
The public minutes do not give the revised total project budget, identify the funding sources or say how much has been spent. They also do not provide a new completion date. The funding strategy is described as proposed in the recommendation, but its contents are not included in the public record.
The minutes were confirmed on 13 October 2026. This report is based on the confirmed public minutes and does not independently verify the underlying project calculations.
What deserves a closer look
The public record confirms the committee's endorsement of the proposed funding strategy but does not disclose its contents.
The public minutes record a cost increase, not an amount spent, and do not state a revised total budget or new completion date.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What is the revised total project budget after the $4.47 million increase?
What funding sources and conditions are included in the endorsed strategy?
Has the cost increase changed the project's delivery timetable?
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The committee adopted a recommendation to note the revised project budget and associated $4.47 million increase in project cost, and endorse the proposed funding strategy outlined in the report.
RECOMMENDATION That the Governance Committee: 1. Receives this report; 2. Notes the revised project budget and associated increase in project cost of $4.47m; and 3. Endorses the proposed funding strategy outlined in the report. COUNCIL DECISION Motion Moved: Clr Macnaught Seconded: Clr Ammoun That the recommendation be adopted. On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED. 5 Minutes of the Governance Committee Meeting held on Tuesday, 15 September 2026 and confirmed on Tuesday, 13 October 2026 ...........................................
CONF 01 — recommendation and decision
Open original minutes ↗The motion to adopt the recommendation was moved by Councillor Macnaught, seconded by Councillor Ammoun and declared carried.
COUNCIL DECISION Motion Moved: Clr Macnaught Seconded: Clr Ammoun That the recommendation be adopted. On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED. 5 Minutes of the Governance Committee Meeting held on Tuesday, 15 September 2026 and confirmed on Tuesday, 13 October 2026 ...........................................
CONF 01 — decision
Open original minutes ↗The Carnes Hill Aquatic and Recreation Centre project update was confidential under section 10(A)(2)(c) of the Local Government Act because disclosure would confer a commercial advantage on a person with whom the council was conducting or proposed to conduct business.
Chairperson CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS ITEM NO: CONF 01 FILE NO: 201218.2026 SUBJECT: Carnes Hill Aquatic and Recreation Centre - Project Update Basis of Confidentiality: Item Error! No document variable supplied. is confidential pursuant to the provisions of s10(A)(2)(c) of the Local Government Act because it contains information that would, if disclosed, confer a commercial advantage on a person with whom the Council is conducting (or proposes to conduct) business.
CONF 01 — item heading and confidentiality basis
Open original minutes ↗The minutes state they were confirmed on 13 October 2026.
1 Minutes of the Governance Committee Meeting held on Tuesday, 15 September 2026 and confirmed on Tuesday, 13 October 2026 ........................................... Chairperson MINUTES OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 PRESENT: Deputy Mayor Harle (Acting Chair) Councillor Ammoun Councillor Harte (Online) Councillor Macnaught Mr Jason Breton, Chief Executive Officer Mr Farooq Portelli, Director Corporate Services Ms Tina Bono, Director Community & Lifestyle Ms Lina Kakish, Director Planning & Design Mr Peter Scicluna, Director Operations Mr Vishwa Nadan, Chief Financial Officer Ms Justine Young, Acting Manager Civic
Minutes heading
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the confirmed public minutes of Liverpool City Council’s Governance Committee meeting held on 15 September 2026, confirmed on 13 October 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The revised project budget included an associated $4.47 million increase in project cost.
- The Governance Committee recorded that it endorsed the proposed funding strategy outlined in the confidential report.
- The motion was moved by Councillor Macnaught, seconded by Councillor Ammoun and declared carried.
- The item was confidential because council said disclosure could confer a commercial advantage in a business dealing.
- The minutes do not provide the revised total project budget, funding breakdown, amount spent or a new completion date.
Why it matters
- The $4.47 million increase affects the publicly recorded cost and funding position of an aquatic and recreation project at Carnes Hill, while the public minutes do not disclose the revised total budget or funding breakdown.