The announcement was made on Thursday (June 13) when the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization Council met to review and approve a number of budget requests to enable construction and development at a variety of locations across the island.
Hat Katanchalikul, Chairman of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization Council, oversaw the meeting, which also included Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) President Rewat Areerob and selected PPAO management officials.
The main item for discussion on the agenda was the request for budget to develop a public park at the site of the old Phuket Provincial Prison on Damrong Rd in Phuket Town. The plan is to transform the site into an “eco-tourism attraction” and green area that is to be “the lungs of Phuket Town” where people can exercise and enjoy the outdoor space.
The approved budget of B169.5mn will allow work to begin on developing specific aspects relating to the park, explained Mr Rewat, in addition to the construction of a car park able to accommodate 300 vehicles.
The design for this has been completed and approved by the local community, Mr Rewat added, and now budget approval has been passed the project will advance to tender stage for contractors to acually carry out the construction development process.
Development work on the project started as far back as late November 2022 when the wall around the old Phuket Prison was demolished. This followed the Treasury Department on Sept 30, 2022 issuing a notice granting permission to the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Interior for Phuket to use the state land, measuring 37-2-41 rai. The prison originally covered a total area of 47 rai 3 ngan 34 square wah: 6 rai 1 ngan within the walls, and 41 rai 2 ngan 34 square wah outside the walls. The project area for the public park is to cover about 33 rai and 21 square wah, officials have confirmed.
There was then a public hearing held by officials on Dec 12 last year to solicit feedback and suggestions from local residents on what to do with the proposed green space.
In addition to budget being approved for the public park at the former prison site, there were eight other projects that were given a collective green light for funding to a total of B153mn. This included:
- B12mn for road surface and maintenance work principally connecting the main route from Chaofa East Road to Chaofa West Road, as well as improvements on the traffic island and road lighting along the route.
- B34.5mn to solve flooding problems along the main route connecting the water transportation system at Chalong Bay Tourist Port.
- B1.87mn to improve the Ethics Center building at Charoen Samnakit Temple.
- B11.9mn for construction of a multi-purpose dome building at Ban Mai Riap School.
- B34mn for development of a kidney dialysis center at Ban Manik Tambon Health Promotion Hospital to serve residents in the Thalang area.
- B5mn to fund a project to construct electric charging points for electric vehicles, including the EV Bus.
- B42mn to build a rehabilitation centre for athletes and residents in Phuket Town.
- B9.7mn to repair and develop the roof of Surin Beach Stadium.