Works & infrastructure · Scenic Rim Regional Council
Mt Tamborine Gallery Walk review puts $1.6m cost increase under scrutiny
Scenic Rim Regional Council’s unconfirmed minutes record receipt of a management update and a public question citing a review that reported Stage One costs rising from $4.2 million, with the extra cost covered by council.
Reporting from draft minutes. Recorded wording may change when confirmed. How this article was prepared
An approximately $1.6 million increase on Stage One of the Mt Tamborine Gallery Walk project was reported in a public question citing an independent review, which put the original cost at $4.2 million and said the additional cost was covered by council. Scenic Rim Regional Council received a management response to the review at its 28 October meeting, according to the unconfirmed minutes.
The recorded Gallery Walk motion was to receive an update, not approve a new allocation. Councillors unanimously received the unaudited September 2026 financial report and a Gallery Walk Management Response Update. The supplied minutes do not record a revised total project budget or say that the reported increase was newly allocated that day.
The cost increase was raised in public questions from Leanne Bartrim. The review, as described in her question, attributed the increase to a lack of effective project-management structure, resourcing, systems and risk management. Those problems resulted in inadequate planning, monitoring and control, as well as progressive delays across several work areas, according to the review account cited in the question.
The Chief Executive Officer said oversight and management responsibilities had been shared across relevant council officers and business areas. Some elements were delivered by external contractors engaged by council. He said the review identified problems with project-management arrangements rather than the actions of any one individual or position.
In response to questions about accountability, the Chief Executive Officer said management had focused its response on implementing the review recommendations and embedding project-management frameworks and plans to strengthen governance, risk management, reporting and delivery practices. The minutes refer to a detailed response table attached to the financial report, but do not record the status or completion date of individual actions.
The unconfirmed minutes therefore record that council received the update, but do not establish the final Stage One cost, which corrective actions have been completed or how the reported delays affected the project’s delivery.
What deserves a closer look
The recorded item 11.11 motion was to receive the financial report and management update, not to approve a further Gallery Walk budget.
The cost and root-cause account appears in a public question citing the independent review; the review itself is not supplied.
The minutes refer to a detailed management-response table attached to the report, but the supplied passages do not provide individual action statuses, completion dates, a revised total Stage One cost or a final delivery date.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What is the current forecast and final actual cost for Gallery Walk Stage One, including the reported $1.6 million increase?
Which recommendations in the management response have been completed, and what deadlines apply to outstanding actions?
What delivery dates and delay impacts are recorded for the affected work areas?
What procurement or contract-management information can be released about the external contractor work?
What happens next
Management said its response focused on implementing the review recommendations and embedding project-management frameworks and plans. The supplied minutes do not establish completion of individual actions or set their deadlines.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
A public question from Leanne Bartrim cited an independent review reporting an approximately $1.6 million increase in Gallery Walk Stage One costs from an original $4.2 million, with the additional cost covered by Scenic Rim Regional Council, and identifying project-management deficiencies and delays.
A general Local Laws media release is expected to be issued in the coming weeks; however, this will not identify individual properties or disclose specific permit details. Where further information is sought regarding the outcome of an individual permit application, a request may be made to Council through the appropriate Right to Information process." 5.2 Questions from Ms Leanne Bartrim re the Gallery Walk Project and the leachate issue at the Bromelton Landfill Questions from Ms Bartrim dated 18 September 2026: Question 1: "Gallery Walk Project Stage 1 The independent review by Agile Project Management of Stage One of the Mt Tamborine Gallery Walk project found that the project cost increased by approximately $1.6 million, from the original $4.2 million, with the additional cost covered by Scenic Rim Regional Council. The review stated that the root cause was a "lack of effective project management structure, resourcing, systems and risk management", resulting in inadequate planning, monitoring and control of the project and progressive delays across multiple work areas.
Public Question Time, item 5.2, question 1
Open original minutes ↗The motion to receive the Unaudited Monthly Financial Report for September 2026 and the Gallery Walk Management Response Update for September 2026 carried unanimously.
Moved: Cr Amanda Hay Seconded: Cr Marshall Chalk Motion That Council receive the Unaudited Monthly Financial Report for September 2026 as well as the Gallery Walk Management Response Update for September 2026. Carried unanimously Ordinary Meeting Minutes 28 October 2026 Page 48 11.12 Audit and Risk Committee Annual Report 2025-2026 Executive Officer: Director Corporate and Community Services Attachments: 1.
Item 11.11, motion and result
Open original minutes ↗The Chief Executive Officer said Stage One oversight and management responsibilities were shared across relevant council officers and business areas, some elements were delivered by external contractors engaged by council, and the review identified management-system issues rather than the actions of any one individual or position.
With the Mt Tamborine Gallery Walk project having a $1.6 million cost increase that had to be paid from Council's budget, which Council positions were responsible for managing Stage One, including its costs, risks and delays, and was any part of the project managed or delivered by an external contractor?" The Chief Executive Officer provided the following response: "Stage One of the Tamborine Mountain Gallery Walk project was delivered with oversight and management responsibilities shared across relevant Council officers and business areas. Elements of the project were also delivered by external contractors engaged by Council. The independent review identified issues relating to project management structure, resourcing, systems and risk management rather than the actions of any one individual or position.
Public Question Time, item 5.2, response to question 1
Open original minutes ↗The Chief Executive Officer said management's response focused on implementing review recommendations and embedding the Project Management framework and Project Management Plans to strengthen governance, risk management, reporting and delivery, with actions detailed in a response table attached to item 11.11.
Council's detailed management responses to the Gallery Walk review report findings are included as an attachment to Item 11.11 on the agenda for today's meeting." Ordinary Meeting Minutes 28 October 2026 Page 8 Question 2: "Following the findings of the independent review, has Council taken any action or considered whether accountability is required for the Council positions or contractors responsible for managing the project?" The Chief Executive Officer provided the following response: "Council management has carefully considered the findings of the independent review of the Gallery Walk project and has focused its response on implementing the recommendations, embedding the Project Management framework and Project Management Plans, to strengthen project governance, risk management, reporting and delivery practices across the organisation. The actions being undertaken by management are detailed in the response table to the report. Please refer to the attachment to Item 11.11 on the agenda for today's meeting." Question 3: "Bromelton Landfill Leachate Issue At the 26 August 2026 Public Question Time, the CEO was asked who was responsible for the Bromelton Landfill leachate problem.
Public Question Time, item 5.2, response to question 2
Open original minutes ↗The record identifies the meeting as the Ordinary Meeting held on 28 October 2026.
All correspondence to be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer Scenic Rim Regional Council PO Box 25 BEAUDESERT QLD 4285 ABN: 45 596 234 931 Beaudesert Administration Centre P: 07 5540 5111 F: 07 5540 5103 Boonah Administration Centre P: 07 5463 3000 F: 07 5463 2650 E: mail@scenicrim.qld.gov.au W: https://www.scenicrim.qld.gov.au/ Minutes Ordinary Meeting Wednesday, 28 October 2026 Time: 9:00 am Meeting adjourned at 12:04 pm Meeting resumed at 12:15 pm Meeting adjourned at 12:35 pm Meeting resumed at 1:35 pm Location: Council Chambers 82 Brisbane Street BEAUDESERT QLD 4285 Ordinary Meeting Minutes 28 October 2026 Page 2 Scenic Rim Regional
Minutes cover
Open original minutes ↗The supplied minutes state they were to be confirmed on 25 November 2026.
and a sad loss to Council." 12 Confidential Matters Nil The Ordinary Meeting ended at 2:57 pm. To be confirmed on 25 November 2026. Cr Tom Sharp Mayor
Closing and confirmation notation
Open original minutes ↗Source record
This story is based on Scenic Rim Regional Council’s unconfirmed minutes for its Ordinary Meeting of 28 October 2026. The supplied minutes state they were to be confirmed on 25 November 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- A public question cited an independent review reporting that Stage One costs rose by approximately $1.6 million from an original $4.2 million.
- The public question reported that the additional cost was covered by Scenic Rim Regional Council.
- The unconfirmed minutes record that council unanimously received the unaudited September 2026 financial report and Gallery Walk Management Response Update on 28 October 2026.
- The Chief Executive Officer said oversight and management responsibilities were shared across relevant council officers and business areas, with some work performed by external contractors.
- The Chief Executive Officer said management’s response focused on implementing recommendations and embedding project-management frameworks and plans to strengthen governance, risk management, reporting and delivery.
Why it matters
- The increase was reported in the public question as being covered by council, giving Mt Tamborine residents and ratepayers a direct interest in the project’s final cost and the progress of the governance improvements described by management.