The Water Authority of Fiji says it is waiting for funding from the government for the relocation of water pipes and storm water channels around the country, including the storm and water pipes along Waimanu Road in Suva.
Authority’s CEO Opetaia Ravai says the relocation works will take place once the Public Sector Investment Programme submissions have been approved.
He says many of these works are on the Authority’s priority list for 2016‑2017 with the given funding by government.
Ravai says they have already planned and prepared the estimates, and are trying to secure funding in order for them to relocate these water pipes to allow the Fiji Roads Authority to undertake the road works.
The Authority says the cost for the water pipes and storm water pipe relocation along Waimanu Road is estimated around $5 million.
Fiji Road Authority’s Chief Executive John Hutchinson had highlighted earlier this week that Waimanu Road has storm water channels and water pipes under the road that are old, fragile, past its serviceable life and could collapse from the vibration caused by heavy machinery that will be required for road works.
He says much of the potholed and repeatedly patched surface that the public see on Waimanu Road is a direct result of the aged and fragile services underneath, in particular water services.
