The Murray Bridge council has given Scouts SA a list of projects required at the hall before the council will agree to extend the organisation’s long-term lease.

The list includes $74,600 worth of maintenance and upgrades to be completed by June 2013, with a further $117,000 in works to be subsequently undertaken.

The works include a $12,000 electrical upgrade, a $12,000 drainage upgrade and a $22,000 roof replacement project.

In the future the organisation will likely face a $50,000 bill to upgrade drainage in the car park and to lift a building attachment.

Scouts SA marketing manager Steve Hastwell said the organisation was working through the list and was eager to continue negotiations with the council.

“We’ve received the list from the council and while we’re working closely with the council we’re making our own assessment on this,” he said.

Mr Hastwell said while the current repair bill was large all parties involved, including the council, were working towards the best outcome for the Scout group.

The Murray Bridge council terminated the Scouts’ lease on the Adelaide Road property in September, saying the council was investigating other uses for the hall.

Mayor Allan Arbon would not answer questions about the move at the time, but said in a letter to the editor that the council had terminated Scouts SA’s lease as a result of the large maintenance backlog.

The move sparked outrage among local Scouts, who accused the council of reneging on a 73-year-old land-swap agreement.

Mr Hastwell said negotiations were continuing with the council over the reinstatement of a peppercorn lease on the property.

Scouts are currently using the hall under a licensed agreement.

At last month’s council meeting, the council voted to lay on the table a staff recommendation that sought to set a schedule of fees and charges for other group’s to use the Adelaide Road hall.