Going full steam

Normal, Sports
Source:

The National, Thursday February 6th, 2014

 By PETER SEVARA Jr

THE Games Village contractors have been working under lights for some time now in a bid to complete the facilities in time for the Pacific Games in 2015.

This was made known yesterday during Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s site tours of the Games Village and the Taurama Aquatic Centre and Indoor Complex.

“The contractors are working 24 hours, day and night to complete the games village by April 2015,” Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko said.

Tkatchenko said for the Aquatic centre – around the clock work had been going on for the last six months.

Work on the Sir Hubert Murray and Sir John Guise stadiums had also been going on under lights – and contractors estimated they were ahead of schedule and should complete the venues in time for the games start on July 4, 2015.

The National Football Stadium – formerly the Lloyd Robson Oval – is the responsibility of Oil Search Ltd – but they are equally aware of the urgency to have the venue ready by games time.

The Games Village will be built at the cost of K309 million while the Taurama Aquatic and Indoor Complex will cost K190 million.

The Games Village will consist of 1,100 rooms, a 1,000-seating dining hall, and a 450 seater multi-purpose hall.

The Taurama venue will consist of an Aquatic centre and accommodate an Olympic standard 50-metre pool, a 25-metre training pool, children’s play pool and poolside seating of 1000.

The indoor complex, six international standard courts (three for volley ball and basketball), training facilities for martial arts, a gymnasium and fitness centre, corporate lounge, sports administration office and seating for 2000.

The Aquatic & Indoor Complex is expected to be completed in May 2015.

The design and project management by Warren and Mahoney NZ in conjunction with Pacific Architects PNG began in June 2012.

Site preparation (CSTBG 2960) and pre-cast contract (CSTB 2717) was awarded to curtain brothers and work started on February 11 last year.

Main construction contract (CSTB) 2635) was awarded to CRCE in July 2013 and work started in August 2013, dining hall contract (CSTB 2935) was awarded to CRCG in January 2014.