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Rivervale Plaza gets new contractor for renovation work
Completion by the middle of next year, says Teo Ser Luck, who is overseeing ward after Palmer's resignation
04:45 AM Dec 24, 2012
by Tan Weizhen
SINGAPORE - A new contractor has been hired to continue the overhaul of Rivervale Plaza in Punggol East, which will be completed by the middle of next year, said Minister of State (Trade and Industry) Teo Ser Luck yesterday.
To help businesses cope with the disruption, rental rebates offered to shop owners will be raised by 10 per cent, added Mr Teo, who has been tasked with overseeing the ward after former Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer resigned following an extramarital affair.
A gift redemption programme, with minimum spending, has also been launched in a bid to draw customers back to the mall.
Rental rebates stood at 30 per cent previously, after renovation efforts were stalled when the Housing and Development Board (HDB)-appointed contractor, Technobuilt Construction & Engineering, went bust and abandoned the project in September.
Since then, residents have had to deal with a mess of exposed wires and hoardings around the mall. Shop owners also complained of falling sales, with customers drifting to the nearby Rivervale Mall and Compass Point.
"I would like to apologise to residents for all the inconvenience caused, as well as for the stall owners," said Mr Teo, who is also Member of Parliament of neighbouring Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.
"I know that it has affected their business. I've met up with the HDB to try to understand the issues and speed up the process if possible."
Repairs for existing problems such as leakage during rainy weather will also be addressed by end of the month, he said. The new contractor, Hak Kian Enterprises, will begin work next month, but Mr Teo declined to reveal how much the new contract issued was worth. The contract issued to Technobuilt was worth S$10 million.
When asked whether all the money had been lost, Mr Teo deferred the question to the HDB, which is in charge of the project's budgeting. On whether any legal action is being considered to recover the money, Mr Teo said the decision would be left to the legal advisers of the HDB.
After the revamp, the 13-year-old mall is expected to be fully air-conditioned, and have an additional four food and beverage shops, five retail shops and 25 kiosks - adding to the current 46 shops.
Besides seeking a resolution for the upgrading work at Rivervale Plaza, Mr Teo said he would also address road safety along Sengkang East Road, where residents have highlighted speeding as a concern. Mr Teo said he would be working with the Land Transport Authority to address this, be it putting in traffic lights or speed bumps.
URL http://www.todayonline.com/Singapor...Plaza-gets-new-contractor-for-renovation-work
Completion by the middle of next year, says Teo Ser Luck, who is overseeing ward after Palmer's resignation
04:45 AM Dec 24, 2012
by Tan Weizhen
SINGAPORE - A new contractor has been hired to continue the overhaul of Rivervale Plaza in Punggol East, which will be completed by the middle of next year, said Minister of State (Trade and Industry) Teo Ser Luck yesterday.
To help businesses cope with the disruption, rental rebates offered to shop owners will be raised by 10 per cent, added Mr Teo, who has been tasked with overseeing the ward after former Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer resigned following an extramarital affair.
A gift redemption programme, with minimum spending, has also been launched in a bid to draw customers back to the mall.
Rental rebates stood at 30 per cent previously, after renovation efforts were stalled when the Housing and Development Board (HDB)-appointed contractor, Technobuilt Construction & Engineering, went bust and abandoned the project in September.
Since then, residents have had to deal with a mess of exposed wires and hoardings around the mall. Shop owners also complained of falling sales, with customers drifting to the nearby Rivervale Mall and Compass Point.
"I would like to apologise to residents for all the inconvenience caused, as well as for the stall owners," said Mr Teo, who is also Member of Parliament of neighbouring Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.
"I know that it has affected their business. I've met up with the HDB to try to understand the issues and speed up the process if possible."
Repairs for existing problems such as leakage during rainy weather will also be addressed by end of the month, he said. The new contractor, Hak Kian Enterprises, will begin work next month, but Mr Teo declined to reveal how much the new contract issued was worth. The contract issued to Technobuilt was worth S$10 million.
When asked whether all the money had been lost, Mr Teo deferred the question to the HDB, which is in charge of the project's budgeting. On whether any legal action is being considered to recover the money, Mr Teo said the decision would be left to the legal advisers of the HDB.
After the revamp, the 13-year-old mall is expected to be fully air-conditioned, and have an additional four food and beverage shops, five retail shops and 25 kiosks - adding to the current 46 shops.
Besides seeking a resolution for the upgrading work at Rivervale Plaza, Mr Teo said he would also address road safety along Sengkang East Road, where residents have highlighted speeding as a concern. Mr Teo said he would be working with the Land Transport Authority to address this, be it putting in traffic lights or speed bumps.
URL http://www.todayonline.com/Singapor...Plaza-gets-new-contractor-for-renovation-work
