Councillors approved Wagga-based company Nash Bros Constructions to undertake the refurbishment of the heritage-listed building – at a cost of $528,000 over a 24-week period – from five submissions, including one from a local builder.

The works will bring the building to basic safety standards, but will not cover works to the upstairs section of the theatre.

Council’s general manager Greg Campbell said there was some talking over the choices before Nash Bros was approved.

“The main issue I think was the recommended tender was more expensive than another one, and another one was a local builder, so it was sort of a natural preference for councillors for the local builder,” he said.

“Nash Bros of Wagga have been designated the preferred tender on professional advice – on the basis of quality of the tender and knowledge of the tenderer. (That’s) the quality of the information supplied in the tender, knowledge of the capabilities of the firm – the firm has just done the library for us – and we’re essentially talking about $50,000 difference on a $500,000 project.

“We regard that as quite acceptable for a project such as this ... it is somewhat above estimates, but not unbelievably so.”