The long-awaited upgrade of Govind Park is set to begin after a $3.5 million contract was signed between the Ba Town Council and Permal Consultants Pte Ltd.
Ba Town Council special administrator Anil Amin said the signing was a significant moment after waiting seven years for the park to be renovated.
“This is a long awaited dream come true for us,” Mr Amin said.
“We all know that Govind Park was badly damaged during (Severe Tropical) Cyclone Winston and thereafter we embarked on the first phase of the reconstruction of the pavilion.
“Then there was a lapse of time in between then and now because we all know we need to have funding to continue the project, and Ba Town Council was always dependent on the Government.”
Mr Amin said the $3.5m funding for the second phase was part of their budgetary allocation from the Local Government Ministry.
“It was very kind of the Government to give, in this year’s budget, an allocation for the completion of Govind Park, and that is why we have a new consultant who will take over the project and its procedures from here on.
“Now he will be working to get out tenders and contracts for interested companies and then we should start the project once everything is finalised.”
Mr Amin said they hoped to complete the second phase by August next year.
“We were given $3.5 million for the second phase but we understand it is not going to be enough. Hopefully, we can request the Government for a little bit more to help complete the project.
“We all understand that the prices of things have gone up but we are embarking on the project with the intention of getting as much as possible done with the money we have been provided with.
“The intention now is very clear, which is to get Govind Park open again.”
