Construction work at the new Flagstaff Plaza will continue without any disruptions as the Minister for Infrastructure and Local Government, Parveen Bala has disallowed an appeal by a group of residents.
Bala told Fijivillage that he has considered all the submissions and refused the stop work notice as well.
He says the main issue being raised was the Traffic Impact Assessment Report.
Bala confirms that the Fiji Roads Authority has already dealt with this matter.
A spokesperson for the group of objectors released a statement last month that Parveen Bala had approved the extension to the appeal period by the Flagstaff residents and business owners enabling them to make a case against the rezoning of part of the Marist playground into a commercial site and the traffic problems associated with the development.
A letter signed off by the Director of Town and Country Planning to the Chief Executive Officer of the Suva City Council, Bijay Chand had said that the Minister considered the request through a consultative approach, including the release of the Traffic Impact Assessment report to the objectors, as received by the objector’s representative, Adrienne Ali on the 15th of July.
The Director of Town and Country Planning, Talei Rokotuibau has said in the letter to the SCC at the time that in acknowledging the request to consider the appeal, it is imperative that all works on the site ceases.
She said in the letter that SCC is to advise the applicant that works on the site or any construction development work or activity shall cease until a decision is made by the Minister on the appeal.
The Director also advised SCC to issue a stop work notice in this regard.
Rokotuibau had also asked that the construction fence or hoarding walls placed at the junction of Carew Street and Bau Street shall be removed.
Bala has now told Fijivillage that the appeal is refused and there is no stop work order.
He also says the walls will not be removed.
