Lautoka City Council Calls For New Tenders for Pool Project

The Lautoka City Council will call for new tenders to finish the incomplete Lautoka Swimming Pool Project because the last contractor failed to achieve its target in March last year. An investigation into the delay was conducted.

Appropriate notices had been issued to the project manager and building contractor notifying them of the end of their contracts with the council.

Lautoka and Ba special administrator chair Debra Sadranu announced this at a press conference in Suva yesterday.

Legal advice from a private lawyer and the Solicitor General’s Office was sought after the joint investigation by the council and the Ministry of Local Government.

“The council is rather alarmed with the discoveries made during the investigation process,” Ms Sadranu said.

She said the findings revealed the contractors for the building and associated facilities were not able to complete its contract by March 18, 2019.

The initial contractor for the swimming pools was Nadi-based Luxury Pools and for associated facilities, the Lautoka-based Metal Works and Joinery Limited.

“This is because of wet weather, shortage of materials and delays in some progress payment by the council as the reason for not being able to complete their contract on time,” she said.

“Although there were some delays in processing payments for the project for the payment due to the stringent approval and vetting processes in place to protect Public Funds, the progress claims by the contractors were made.”

The groundbreaking was in May 2017, however, the project worth increased from the initial $7.4 million to $12.6 million and deadline extended from March to November last year.

“After meticulous consideration of the legal opinion, the council has now decided that it is in the Public Interest and good governance to complete the project with a different project manager and contractor for the buildings. So that this long outstanding project is completed in a timely manner.” Council chief executive officer Mohammed Anees Khan said they would not disclose the name of the contractor, adding the 30 days’ notice was served yesterday morning to the project manager and building contractor.

“The council will take further action after the 30 days’ notice,” he said

Mr Khan confirmed 98 per cent of the main swimming pool is completed, and for the associated works which is the second contractor is 30 per cent completed.

The proposed timeframe for the project completion by March 2021.