Faua wharf to get multi-million upgrade [1]
Friday, September 12, 2014 - 20:04. Updated on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 20:32.
The Faua wharf will get a major upgrade and extension next year when construction work begins funded with an estimated US$30.5 million dollar grant from the Government of Japan.
Mosese Lavemai the General Manager of Ports Authority Tonga said today a preliminary environmental survey was currently underway in Nuku'alofa carried out by a team from Japan.
He said this is part of the initial works required to be done before a groundbreaking ceremony to start the construction is held around mid-2015. It is expected that the construction will take around two years.
“It is a big project costing around US$30.5 million (over $60 million pa'anga) from Japan. The upgrade includes the extension of the wharf for the domestic ferry service and the construction of a terminal building to house passengers and cargo,” he said.
The Japanese team have been here for two-weeks now carrying out the enviromental survey of the reef and the ocean and to meet other stakeholders.
The proposal to Japan was submitted by the Tongan Government through the Ministry of Infrastructure. There was a need for the extension of the wharf to properly accomodate the domestic ferry service and have a safe terminal building for its many passengers. The submission was made to Japan since they had generously assisted by providing Tonga with the inter-island ferry, the MV 'Otuanga'ofa, he said.