The council in May resolved to award a contract to Kimberly Constructions for an amount of $545,400 excluding GST for the construction of the new amenities.

However, following awarding the tender to Kimberly Constructions, its manager advised the council that it was no longer in a position to fulfill the obligation of the contract.

The council voted on Monday night to award the contract to BDH Construction which was in second place in the tender process behind Kimberley Constructions.

The cost for BDH Constructions to build the toilets is $775,610 including GST.

Councillor Tony Herbert said it was “quite hard to believe that two toilet blocks are going to cost this much”.

“But, at the open tender process people have the opportunity to see the plans and and put their best price forward,” he said.

“I’m also pleased to see that the three tenders have all been local contractors employing local people.

“I think more importantly it’s really going to activate that part of the gardens.

“I’d like to see this be the start for a few more potential commercial opportunities for the gardens, in keeping with their plan and vision, that can be rolled out to assist with public use of that great space.”

The Warrnambool Botanic Gardens master plan was adopted in 2017.

It shows the preferred site for a new amenities block is in the north-east corner as “it has the support of Heritage Victoria and is able to be serviced by existing sewer lines without pumping”. 

Community feedback on the master plan showed the highest priority for infrastructure at the gardens was new toilet facilities.

Opinion was divided on whether the existing facilities should be retained (but supplemented with additional facilities built elsewhere in the gardens), upgraded or decommissioned to make way for a new toilet block. 

In 2015 the construction of the Gilles Street toilet block in Warrnambool cost $350,000 on the eastern side of the street adjacent to the old post office.