KNYSNA NEWS - The seemingly never-ending construction work on the corner of Queen Street and Waterfront Drive is likely to drag on longer.

The tender process for contract T57/2017/2018 started on 5 February 2018 and concluded on 8 March of the same year. The project comprises upgrading the existing Knysna CBD sewer system and constructing a new sewer pump station on Waterfront Drive.

According to the Knysna Municipality's annual report, the value of the project in the 2017/2018 financial year was placed at R18 064 564,00. The initial completion date was 4 June this year, giving the contractor three years for the job.

The tender was handed to Welkom-based contractor HT Pelatona, that commenced on 4 June 2018. Work started in Gordon Street and has gradually made its way to the current position at the Waterfront Drive pump station. 

It has received additional financial backing over the years. In the 2018/2019 financial year it was allocated R8-million of the municipal budget and in the 2019/2020 financial year a further R6-million.

Over the years there have been several unexpected setbacks, according to municipal spokesperson Christopher Bezuidenhoudt. 

"There were unforeseen delays attributed to both the contractor and the municipality. There were also Covid-19-related delays," he said. Bezuidenhoudt did not clarify what the delays were.

He said HT Pelatona remains on board with the project. "The contractor (HT Pelatona) is committed to staying on until the job is complete, however they have used different sub-contractors for different specialties," he explained. 

Bezuidenhoudt did not say what the new expiry date of the contract is, or when the contractor now expects to complete the contract.

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