A plumber who claims to be owed almost $40,000 has taken his complaint to Chief Minister Andrew Barr. The tradesman said he had spent $25,000 on materials, but only been paid $4000, with promised progress payments never being made. He says he faces financial ruin.

Mr Barr said government policy required head contractors to certify that sub-contractors had been paid but officials could not get involved in disputes and he should direct his complaint to the builder, Duellery.

Calls to Duellery went unanswered on Wednesday.

Asked about payments to subcontractors, Stromlo Stomping Grounds spokesman Terry Shaw said construction sometimes ended in dispute over quality and scope of works.

"Stomping Grounds is always prepared to pay for quality work," he said.

"However, some contractors' works have not been up to industry standards and in these instances we will seek to remedy this as part of finalising payments due."

The project is being funded mainly by the government with a budget of $880,000, and delivered by Stromlo Stomping Grounds, which says it has spent almost as much again of its own money.

Land Development Agency deputy chief executive Dan Stewart said the government would spend an extra $50,000, an overspend relating to "unforseen issues such as improvements to the disabled access lift".

On top of that, $80,000 had been committed for seating, toilets and level access from the carparks.

Mr Stewart said he was aware of allegations some sub-contractors had not been paid in full. Contractual arrangements were between Stromlo Stomping Grounds and the sub contractors, but the agency had told Stromlo Stomping Grounds that it "treats the non-payment of sub contractors very seriously", he said.

Mr Shaw conceded the build "hasn't been as smooth as I thought it would be."

"It's all a bit experimental, we're using shipping containers, we've got a temporary structure but we're overlaying it over the building regulations…It's been a longer journey and a harder or a more complex journey than what we anticipated, but we're really really close."

Mr Shaw would not say how much the group had spent, beyond saying it came close to the government's spend, and covered fit out, operations, event management, marketing, as well as some construction costs.

The village has been closed in recent weeks for the lift and other "amenity issues" but will be open for a car rally this weekend.

By June visitors would be able to buy food and coffee, "shoot some hoops on the basketball ring, kick a futsal ball around with goals, be able to literally chill out upstairs in the bar."

"When you're breaking new ground and doing something for the first time like this you have to expect that you're going to have these issues," Mr Shaw said.

The container village was announced July 2014 to bring life to the lakefront and was to be open by September, but construction was delayed, and while it has opened with a handful of vendors including a coffee shop and for events, the vision is yet to be realised.

Mr Stewart said an extension had been granted to April 15 2015, "due to unforseen difficulties related to the construction of a building without precedent in the ACT", and completion was now expected by the end of May. "Whilst there are clauses in the agreement that would allow termination, the LDA has determined that this is not in the best interests of the project," he said.

The government contracted Stromlo Stomping Grounds for the job last year without going to tender, claiming an exemption of urgency.

Mr Stewart said the contract had no minimum visitor numbers, but as a financial contributor, Stromlo Stomping Grounds had an interest in attracting visitors.

Mr Barr praised the group's creativity and said construction delays were common.

"I trust that any outstanding contractual matters between the Stomping Ground Collective and sub-contractors can be fairly resolved," he said in a statement.