The Tamavua Action Group stresses that given the significant risks associated with the area along Princes Road, it is critical that any new developments near the Tamavua-i-Wai Ridge undergo thorough scrutiny before a planning approval is granted, particularly in locations where weak Suva Marl has been identified.
This has been an ongoing issue as the Tamavua Action Group continues to express their concerns regarding the Government's oversight of the property development along the fragile Tamavua-i-Wai Ridge.
In a letter to the Local Government Minister, Maciu Nalumisa, Group President, Vincent McKenzie says as outlined in the Technical Review of the Great Han development, the Tamavua ridge is considered one of the "most dangerous parts of Fiji in which to live" due to the numerous active faults in the area.
He says the hazards posed by property development there were further underscored by limited geo-technical investigations conducted on the Great Han site, which revealed significant faults and discontinuities in the subsurface material underscoring the weak nature of the Suva Marl in the area.
McKenzie says these concerns are far from theoretical as numerous landslips have occurred along the Tamavua-i-Wai Ridge in recent years, including the devastating landslide of 1980 that tragically claimed the lives of a mother and her three children.
He says the risk of similar catastrophes has only increased with the growth of informal settlements below the ridge, amplifying the urgency of proper planning and oversight.
McKenzie says the Tamavua Action Group has been informed that potential new investors are being approached regarding the acquisition of the Great Han development site.
He says to prevent a recurrence of the challenges encountered with the original project, they urge the government to clearly communicate to any prospective investors that the completion of the existing structure remains subject to the conditions outlined in the Department of Environment's decision dated November 24th, 2023, the investors will not be permitted to complete the remaining phases of the original development, as continuing the project would be, according to the Technical Review Report, "erroneous and irresponsible" due to the weak subsoil conditions.
McKenzie stresses that any alternative development on the site must undergo a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment, a requirement considered essential in the Technical Review Report.
He also believes that the planning permission for new Residential A projects near the cliff edge along the Tamavua-i-Wai Ridge should be subjected to heightened scrutiny to ensure that the structural load does not exceed the capacity of the land, particularly in areas with known geo-technical vulnerabilities.
They urge the Government to consult with bodies such as Engineers Fiji to establish limits on both dead-loads and edge-distance-i.e., the proximity that a building can be constructed to the ridge line along the Tamavua-i-Wai Ridge.
McKenzie says this is now a matter of some urgency given how heavily populated the ridge line already is.
He says pending the outcome of these consultations, they urge the Government to limit new developments to single or double-story residences with a maximum dead-load of 2 tonnes/m2. We have sent questions to Local Government Minister, Maciu Nalumisa and Permanent Secretary for Environment, Doctor Sivendra Michael.
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