THE restoration of the historic Suva Olympic Pool will cost between $250,000 and $300,000, according to Suva City Council CEO Tevita Boseiwaqa.
He told The Fiji Times the pool has been closed for several months because of concerns that the water was not being changed regularly as a result of a structural issue.
“We’ve already cleared the area, and now we’re looking for a supplier to get what is required,” Mr Boseiwaqa said.
“One of the structural parts we need isn’t available in Fiji, and because the pool is a heritage site, we can’t just modernise it.
“We have to work within the original structure.”
He said the pool would not reopen until the necessary structural repairs were done.
“There were times we fixed the system, and the water flowed again. But then it would stop.
“It became an on-and-off situation.
“Once we realised the water wasn’t circulating properly, we decided to just close it and fix it properly for long-term use.”
However, Mr Boseiwaqa said the timeline remained uncertain as they have yet to procure the required part of the machine.
“It’s beyond our control at the moment. We are dependent on the supply of a specific part, and we also have to meet heritage preservation standards.”
The pool is one of the oldest public recreational sites in the capital.
