THE expansion of the Lucea market is among a number of infrastructure improvement works that will be undertake in the township in the new year, Lucea mayor, Lloyd Hill, has said.

“It (the market) is going to be expanded to accommodate more persons and to make it more comfortable for both those who are vending and those who are buying,” Hill told the Observer.

He said the expansion of the market is expected to facilitate an improvement in its economic viability and by extension that of the town.

“The people who are vending will feel more confident that they are in an environment that will attract the buyers…” he said.

Improvement works there will include the raising of the roof to accommodate better ventilation and the resurfacing of the ground. The mayor said the tenders should go out by about April, and work is expected to commence in June.

Construction of a transport centre along the Willie DeLisser Boulevard will also get underway in the new year, at a cost of about $16 million.

Hill said the existing car park, which is privately operated, was inadequate because of the heavy traffic flow in the town.

“There is a small car park there now but it is not adequate. It is not large enough and there are no proper sanitary facilities,” he said.

Of the estimated $16 million slated for the construction of the new car park, the mayor said $9 million will go toward ground works while the remaining $7 million will go toward the construction of the park. This will include fencing and sanitary facilities and offices.

“Although it is all happening in Lucea, it impacts on the entire parish because Lucea is the capital and it’s really the main point of activity for transportation and the market and everything,” Hill said.

“So if you have a new transport centre and a new market it will make a big difference both to Lucea and to the adjoining communities that utilise these facilities.”

The renovation of the parish council building, which began in Summer of 1999, is also expected to be completed in the new year.

The mayor could not say the cost of the works so far completed nor could he say the cost of the work left to be done.

The work on phase one, which was completed in July this year, saw the complete renovation of the upper floor. The work involved repairs to the roof, the flooring, the mayor’s parlour, the council chamber, the administrative offices and the installation of an air conditioning system.

This year will see the renovation of the lower floor, which incorporates the Accounts and Planning Department, and the Poor Relief Department. Work will also be done on the adjoining building, which houses the Roads and Works Department.