THE Lautoka swimming pool is one of the longest swimming pool projects in the world, says Residents and Ratepayers Association president Narayan Reddy.
He said there were a lot of promises made that the swimming pool would be opened in October this year.
“The way we are looking at it, I doubt that it will ever be done in the term of the current government. It will not be completed,” he said.
“Because whatever money was promised in the budget, it has never reached the construction of the swimming pool.”
Mr Reddy said the association had gone out of their way in trying to secure a donor to complete the construction of the swimming pool.
“The donor was also willing to put a stadium around it.
“Basically, the donor was willing to spend $20million to really turn the swimming pool into an international standard and all they wanted was that they will operate it for the next 15 years.
“Unfortunately, the special administrators did not want to discuss that proposal further so that was stopped.”
Meanwhile, Lautoka Board of Special Administrators chairperson Taitusi Rasoki said the construction work would undergo a fresh start.
“We’re only waiting for the Solicitor General’s confirmation before we sign the contract with the contractor that will continue the construction work,” Mr Rasoki said.
A budget of $1.9million was allocated under the 2025-2026 National Budget to complete the long-delayed swimming pool project which was first approved in 2017 but stalled because contractor issues.
