The wait for shower facilities and more carpark spaces at MacRitchie Reservoir — the first phase of which was scheduled for completion the end of this month — has just gotten longer.
According to the PUB, the construction work for the $5-million makeover would be delayed for at least another nine months after the construction work on the carpark "has virtually stopped in the last two months".
Artist's impression of how the new green carpark will look when it is completed (PUB picture)The contractor, Wacon Construction, is understood to be undergoing financial difficulties due to the rising costs of raw materials including sand. It is facing several lawsuits from creditors.
First announced in October 2006 as part of the PUB's Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme to spruce up Singapore's waterways, the project would equip MacRitchie with new features, including shower facilities, a designated warm-up area and a two-storey carpark that would double the number of parking lots.
PUB's director for best sourcing Moh Wung Hee said it has terminated the contract with Wacon and would be calling for a new tender by the end of the month. Mr Moh added that the PUB "aims to complete the construction of the carpark by the end of the year and the amenities centre by next October".
In 2003, the tendering system for public projects was tightened after a couple of Housing and Development Board projects — an upgrading project in Marine Terrace and the building of flats in Sengkang — were stalled.
Among the new rules introduced then was the empowerment of the Building and Construction Authority to audit the financial status of contractors more frequently, to act as an early-warning system against contractors in danger of insolvency. - TODAY/fa
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