The Brighton Council has made the decision to scale down a planned signage project for the Brighton Hub due to a ‘significant cost increase’.
Originally planning to construct two landmark entry signs for the Hub, the Council faced a $50,000 cost blowout due to delays in planning approvals and rising material costs, which exceeded the original budget of $160,000 – or roughly $80,000 per sign.
“Essentially we don’t have enough money to purchase two signs,” a Council staffer said at a recent meeting.
As a result of this budget constraint and updated $210,000 price tag, Councillors opted to proceed with building just one sign next to the Midland Highway at the southern entrance to the Brighton Hub.
Any remaining funds from the original $160,000 allocation, following the installation of the sign, will be redirected towards landscaping and possibly refacing other existing signage in the Hub area.
The council hope the ‘strategic placement’ of the sign will ‘enhance the Hub’s appearance and identity’ and remain open to installing a second sign in the future should finances allow.
Full design specifications, including whether the sign is electronic or not, are yet to be released.
