Excavations start for Nuku'alofa reconstruction [1]
Thursday, May 7, 2009 - 14:38. Updated on Friday, September 12, 2014 - 11:27.
The reconstruction of Nuku'alofa is finally getting a move on as excavation work has begun at the Taumoepeau Building after much delay since the groundbreaking ceremony in November last year.
The Director of the Urban Planning Department Tukua Tonga said today, May 7, that excavation and geo-technical work had begun at the Taumoepeau site. The building was demolished in March and site sealed off from the general public last month for the groundwork.
The work is expected to run for the rest of the month and includes investigating existing subsurface conditions and materials, site investigation of soil, rock, on and below the area.
Tukua said the next work is the O.G. Sanft Building, which they plan to demolish this week for the groundwork to begin and work will run at the same time as the Taumoepeau building.
Only these two directly affected businesses had confirmed their participation in the reconstruction project at this stage, utilising the 5% interest soft loan from China.
Working 24 hours
Tukua said although work has been delayed they are still on track because the 40 Chinese were working 24 hours around the clock.
There are also about 200 Tongan labourers registered for the work but there were problems because some of them turn up late and leave early before the work ends, he added,
The next stage will include a road centre survey to reconfirm location of wires, and pre fabrication work.
The construction of facilities for a modern Nuku'alofa Central Business District is largely funded by a $120 million pa'anga loan from China and other loans to the Tonga government for civic works and the rebuilding of businesses.