Masterton sewerage budgets defended | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Masterton District Council has squashed rumours that major sewerage projects are over budget.

Finance manager David Paris said the spending on the Homebush wastewater treatment plant upgrade and Riversdale Beach sewerage scheme were within project estimates.

"The project budgets have changed many times over the years as designs and timing have changed," he said.

"Riversdale's scheme is built and certainly not overspent or over budget. Private connections are still being worked on by contractors."

He said the final costs of the project were estimated in April last year and the council was still on track to be within that target.

Mr Paris said the Homebush project was still being built and monthly claims were being paid to the contractor.

"The claims match estimates," he said, adding although there is still a long way to go on the project.

"The expenditure for Homebush is tracking as expected to be."

Mr Paris said any work by contractors not in the contracted design must be approved by council engineers first.

"They're big, high-value projects and council's been managing them closely," he said.

There was a contingency in the project budget for unexpected work.