Boundary extension
FORTY years ago, The Sigatoka Town Council made plans to increase its town boundary.
This, according to an article published by on January 7, 1983.
Councilor Kantilal Tappoo, who was re-elected mayor, said the town’s boundary had covered a small portion of the residential area and the available resources were not able to cater for the projects wanted by the residents.
Mr Tappoo said these boundary extensions were a complicated situation which needed extreme reasoning as there needed to be considerations of the area and whether it would bring about positive aspects or liabilities.
At the time, Mr Tappoo was on his 10th term as elected mayor.
He was recognised as the longest serving mayor in Fiji.
Improving the level of traffic, building a new civic centre and more facilities that would cater for various sports were some of the council’s priorities at the time.
“Traffic congestion at the market area is a problem,” he said.
Construction of the Suva to Nadi highway, which would run through the town was nearing completion, and it was hoped this would reduce the traffic problem faced by residents.
Mayor Tappoo added that a certain level of the overcrowding would be eased through the construction of an $80,000 car and bus park.
A meeting of all the council’s standing committees would overlook or review the traffic policies, and this included traffic orders and regulations for buses and carriers.
He said the director of Town and Country Planning along with the Ministry of Communications and Works had drawn a traffic report upon the request of the previous council. This would be used as a guide.
The long-term projects of the council was to build a civic centre and sporting facilities.
Two blocks of land were purchased to cater for these projects.
It was revealed that a fire station which was located behind the council chambers would be moved to another site while the proposed civic centre was to be built on the area next to the council.
Mr Tappoo said the facility that would be used for sporting activities was under negotiation.
The sporting facilities was to include a soccer and rugby ground which were of approved national standards, along with a tennis court and stadium.