It now appears that very little of the $12.4 million council set aside for the facilities in the next budget will be spent on the first two projects.

Estimates have put the initial cost of redeveloping the former Dubbo High School site for use as a museum and community arts centre at between $200,000 and $1 million.

There will be no major construction work and the scaled-down museum will be unable to accommodate all the existing displays currently stored at the airport.

Senior council staff believe it could be "five to six years" before the city realises its plans for a regional museum and art gallery at the school site.

The project listed second - the upgrading of the civic centre for functions, conventions and concerts - could cost between $1 million and $3 million, leaving the bulk of funds for the theatre.

But "guesstimates" by councillors and staff revealed wide variations in the perceived cost and timing of the projects.

Ben Shields rejected the priority list this week saying it would put off the theatre indefinitely, but the revised spending allocations suggest something different.

Community services director David Dwyer said council could have as much as $10 million left from the cultural budget to carry over into the theatre project.

He said the main work for the school in the initial stage included carpeting, painting, repairs and wiring and might come in at just $200,000.

"There is no way we could build the theatre in the next financial year," Mr Dwyer said. "We have to decide on a site, approach architects - there are a number of things that have to be completed. But there is no reason why we can't start the development in the next couple of years."

Mayor Greg Matthews took a much more cautious line suggesting the theatre was still three to four years away.

He said there was a lot of pressure on council to "rush ahead" with projects but the city also had to consider the cost of maintaining its infrastructure.

"We have to 'rush' slowly if we don't want to end up with a heavy maintenance bill that is going to put this council in an economic crisis," he said.

"There are a lot of towns around here which have wonderful cultural facilities but you not only have to build it - you have to maintain it."

He said the priority list did not mean council had to "proceed with or fund any of the projects" or set a timetable.

Meanwhile Arthur Mortimer could stoke the debate further with his yet-to-be released "sketch plan" of a theatre near the existing civic centre - a site promoted by the previous council but later rejected.

Cr Mortimer said his plan did not include a revamped gallery like the earlier one and took into account additional parking needs.

If it got the green light it would not only impact on the cost of upgrading the civic centre but also smooth the way for construction of a tiered theatre in two years.

As for the redevelopment of the high school - estimated at about $11 million by architectural consultants - that could end up a budget job.

Cr Mortimer calculated the total cost of revamping the site with a new art gallery and regional museum could be done for about $5 million.