LAUTOKA Ratepayers Association president Narayan Reddy says there is a need for Lautoka to have an international standard swimming pool.
During an interview last week, Lautoka special administrator Ratu Tevita Momoedonu said the pool would not host international or local competitions but would only be used for recreation.
This statement has raised the ire of many in the West, some taking to social media to question the logic in not completing the project — with many questioning the justification of spending a reported $4.5million on downgrading the project.
Speaking to The Fiji Times, Mr Reddy said the city would lose out on much-needed revenue gained from hosting international competitions.
“We want international competitions to be held in Lautoka because that was the whole reason for the swimming pool to start with,” he said.
“There is Churchill Park. Before it never hosted any international matches and hosting Super Rugby matches was a big achievement for the West.
“There are people who have benefited from hosting big events such as hotels, bus companies, market vendors and businesses. Even taxi operators are gaining revenue when a game is held in Lautoka.
“If the council is just going to have a domestic size swimming pool, will we get the much-needed revenue for Lautoka City Council and Lautoka as a whole?”
Mr Reddy said Lautoka already had two swimming pools for public use.
“There is a swimming pool at the Northern Club and South Seas Club which are open to the public.
“We need the international pool for swimmers to come from overseas and have their competition in Lautoka.
“Now students from the West are going to Suva for competitions.
“Lautoka has three swimming clubs and for competitions they travel all the way to Suva and Nadi when we have our own pool for competitions.”
