The cost of Busselton’s controversial Saltwater project has been laid bare in an independent review, which reveals the total is likely to exceed $60 million for the entertainment centre that still has no confirmed opening date. A report by independent auditor KPMG found the build cost is likely to exceed $60m, with borrowing costs pushing the total bill to almost $72m. The performing arts centre was originally expected to cost just over $21m when first proposed in 2019. But the report does not yet include in-house project costs or lost opportunity costs, meaning the final figure could climb higher. City councillors engaged in robust debated the interim Saltwater Project Learnings Report at its January 28 ordinary meeting.