Horsham Rural City Council director of technical services John Martin said the site had been prepared for concrete pouring but rain had delayed the contractors.

“We have started. It is on hold because of the weather,” he said,

“The pouring of concrete for the foundation on the south side has been delayed to Monday week because of the wet conditions.

“Of course, we like wet conditions for the farmers. When you schedule works for this time of year, delays like this can be expected.”

Site preparation work for the footbridge over the Wimmera River, which will stretch from Apex Island to Major Mitchell Drive, started last year.

Horsham council and Horsham Apex Club have proposed to build a playground on the island but the budget for the intended project was cut by $330,000 in last month’s council budget.

Mr Martin said the scope of the project would be adjusted after consulting with the Apex Club.

“We had hoped to secure a grant to put into the budget for the Apex playground,” Mr Martin said.

“However, we received advice that we were not going to get that particular grant.

“So, unfortunately we have had to look at the scope of the playground project in light of the revised budget.”

Mr Martin said Horsham Council and the Apex club would work together to establish priorities for the revised playground budget.

“It is primarily Horsham Apex Club’s project. They have raised a significant amount of money for the playground,” Mr Martin said.

“They have had this money sitting there for quite a while and they are keen to get started.”

Horsham Apex Club president Shannon Morrow said the issue would have to come back to a club meeting.

“Horsham council has sent us the pricing list,” he said.

“We wanted to have toilets on the island, but that is proving difficult to do.

“We have to decide if we wait and keep pushing to get the toilets included, or just get started on other things.”