Plans to upgrade Subrail Park is on hold because of the shortage of woodspan panel, according to Labasa Town Council chief executive officer Faiz Ali.
Mr Ali said woodspan panel was a specific type of timber crucial for the upgrade.
“We are trying to have major tournaments to come this side of the town, but the problem is the supply of the woodspan panel,” he said.
“Tropik Wood is the sole supplier of these panels, and the council is currently facing challenges in securing an adequate supply to move forward with the upgrades. To ensure the stadium meets the necessary standards for the planned tournaments, he said the council was consulting with engineers and plans to hire contractors for the project.
“There will be advertisements put out in the paper.”
Responding to the concerns raised by the Labasa Town Council, Tropik Wood’s senior operation manager Ashviel Prasad said they had not received any complaints regarding the supply of woodspan panels. “I cannot get the concern clearly,” he said.
Mr Prasad said there were other local suppliers in the market.
“We always try to meet the demand and strive to comply with market regulations and standards.”
However, he urged the Labasa Town Council executive to use treated timber while upgrading the stadium.
He recounted a case where a local resident of Veiseisei built a home using untreated timber, which later became infested with termites, underscoring the potential risks of not adhering to standards.
