NACC Phuket announced on Tuesday (Jan 6) that the inspection was carried out two weeks ago, on Dec 26, at the Thalang Victory Monument in Thepkrasattri, a site linked to the historic 1785 battle led by Phuket heroines Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Sri Soonthorn.
The visit was led by NACC Phuket Director Suwat Saowaran, who assigned officers from the Anti-Corruption Prevention Group to monitor the project’s current status and follow up on previous inspections conducted by the commission.
The inspection was conducted jointly with the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO, or ‘OrBorJor’), represented by Deputy Chief Chalam Atthatham, along with officials from Thepkrasattri Municipality, Thepkrasattri Tambon Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor), and other relevant agencies.
According to information presented during the inspection, the project site covers an area of 100 rai, 33.30 square wah. The OrBorJor has already taken over all assets within the area and is now the sole agency responsible for managing and developing the site, following a resolution agreed by multiple state agencies and approved by the Phuket Area Treasury Department.
Agencies involved in the resolution included the OrBorJor, Thepkrasatri OrBorTor, Thepkrasatri Municipality, Phuket Provincial Cultural Office, the Thalang District Office, the Thao Thep Krasattri Thao Sri Soonthorn Foundation and the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning.
Officials confirmed that the OrBorJor has submitted a formal application to the Phuket Area Treasury Department to use the land as state property and that design plans for the development of the Thalang Victory Monument area have already been completed.
The OrBorJor Council has approved the use of accumulated funds for the 2026 fiscal year to finance the Thalang Victory Monument Development Project, with a budget of B265 million allocated under the industry and public works construction plan.
Planned works include extensive landscape improvements and the construction of multiple buildings, including two museum buildings, two reception buildings, an external exhibition hall, a multipurpose building, an office building, 13 commercial units, three public restroom buildings, and one electrical and systems building.
Officials said the project is currently in the process of finalising the scope of work and determining the median price before construction can proceed.
The stated objective of the development is to transform the Thalang Victory Monument into a world-class historical tourism destination that integrates education, recreation and cultural tourism, with the aim of generating sustainable employment and income for the local community.
During the inspection, the NACC reported that conditions on the ground were consistent with information previously provided by the OrBorJor. Security guards are now stationed at the site around the clock, cleaning staff have been hired, and landscaping improvements have been carried out to improve safety and cleanliness.
The main building has been fenced off to prevent unauthorised access and theft, while officials noted visible renovations and structural improvements compared to previous inspections.
The OrBorJor stated that the area is planned to be further developed into a public space and market, as well as a learning centre for residents, students and researchers interested in Phuket’s historical heritage.
The NACC confirmed it will continue to monitor the project’s progress and coordinate with relevant agencies to ensure compliance with regulations and applicable laws. Officials were instructed to strictly adhere to legal procedures throughout the project’s implementation.
The inspection follows more than a decade of delays to the development of the historic site.
Plans to develop the area, sometimes referred to as ‘Phuket Historical Park’, date back to at least 2013, when the original budget announced for the entire project amounted to a staggering B350 million (about B392mn today).
In 2016, it was announced that B42 million was to be spent on landscaping, a pumphouse and some exercise swings at the site.
That announcement came from Watcharin Patomwatthanapong, who at the time was Chief Administrative Officer of the PPAO.
Among the repeated announcements to spend government funds on improving the park ‒ which never materialised ‒ was in August 2018, when it was declared that a museum covering 36 rai was planned for the site, with the actual amount neven even publicly recognised by the Phuket Governor at the time, Norraphat Plodthong.
Six years later, in September 2024, PPAO President Rewat Areerob presided over a public consultation meeting to explain design plans and gather public opinion on the redevelopment of the Thalang Victory Monument area.
The meeting was held at Angsana Laguna Phuket and attended by local officials, private sector representatives and members of the public.
At that meeting, officials outlined plans to redevelop approximately 99 rai of the site into a world-class destination combining historical education, cultural activities and tourism, aimed at elevating Thalang’s role in Phuket’s cultural and historical identity.
NACC Phuket Chief Mr Suwat said his office will continue to follow up on the project to ensure public funds are used transparently and that the long-stalled development delivers tangible benefits to the people of Phuket.