Another $500,000 has been added to the budget for the Wanaka sports facility - pushing the cost to $13.9 million plus gst.
The estimated cost has varied over the years, between $10 million and $16.8 million.
Queenstown Lakes District Council recreation programme team leader Jendi Paterson is recommending the council approve the extra spending at its meeting tomorrow.
In a report to the council, Ms Paterson said a $185,000 increase in material costs was one item contributing to the overall increase.
There was also an additional $20,000 for LED lighting in the main sports hall instead of fluorescents, $20,000 for mechanical roof dampers to assist airflow, and $275,000 for floodlights on the outdoor multisport turf.
In a 2012 progress report, the council said the proposed sports facility would include ''a full-size football field with high-quality turf and floodlights''.
Asked to explain why the lights had become an extra cost, general manager, planning and development Marc Bretherton said outdoor lighting was removed during ''value management'' in June 2014.
''Since then officers have engaged in further discussion with councillors and primary sports users of the outdoor turf which indicate participation and use of the turf would be much higher during winter months with the inclusion [of lights] at time of build rather in stage two.
''The capital cost is significant; however, ongoing operating costs are not.''
The annual cost of operating the lights was estimated at $3245.
Ms Paterson said in her report the Upper Clutha Hockey Club indicated it would use the lights three to four nights a week in the winter and the Upper Clutha Netball Club four to five nights a week.
Ms Paterson is also seeking authorisation from the council to confirm a main contractor for the project.
Expressions of interest were received from nine companies, and the ''top three'' were chosen to go into a closed tender process.
The council is being given the option of allowing chief executive Adam Feeley to appoint the main contractor or have the matter reported back to an extraordinary meeting of the council in May.
''If the main contractor is appointed in May, construction of stage one will be completed by 30 June, 2016, and the facility opened in July 2016,'' Ms Paterson said in her report.
She is also recommending the council approve additional unbudgeted expenditure of $150,000 to $200,000 to progress design of the new pool being built as part of the facility.
In December, the council decided to include $11.8 million for the pool in the draft 2015-25 long-term plan.
