The first round of works, scheduled to begin on June 6, involves relocating the existing sewer line around the centre.

This was originally scheduled to begin in March but was delayed when the council had to employ a new archaeologist to oversee the project.

A spokesman for GMC said the original archaeologist was unavailable due to overseas travel. 

“Unfortunately this delay has been unavoidable, but we have now engaged a new archaeologist and received the necessary approvals to relocate the sewer line,” Mayor Bob Kirk said.

“We will be taking our time with this work as Wendy Thorp, our engaged archaeologist, will be looking for signs of the first Goulburn Jail and the remains of bushranger Thomas Whitton.”

It will take approximately three days to try find Whitton’s remains.

General manager Warwick Bennett said all other permits were in place and the council was awaiting the archaeologist’s availability.

“We’ll be very careful with the excavation and if we don’t find anything, that will determine the final design of the tender documents. If we do find something then we’ll have to work with the archaeologist on how we deal with that.

“We’re ready to go. I’m impatient to start. We’re waiting on the State Government’s decision on our cultural fund application (for $4.5 million) towards the centre, which we’re feeling very confident about.”

It was a 15-month build, with completion by the end of 2019, he said.

After the sewer relocation, the council will call tenders for construction. 

The result of the NSW Government Regional Cultural Infrastructure Fund will be released in the “near future,” a council spokesman said. 

The Performing Arts Centre will seat 400 people. The project was approved last year.