Family of 13 relocated due to a landslide, to have a new home built by Housing Ministry

A new house will be built by the Ministry for Housing for the family of 13 who have had to relocate as their house was sitting on the edge of the landslide in Balabala Crescent, Newtown .

Minister for Housing and Community Development Premila Kumar visited the family as they feared that their lives and property were under threat after a landslide occurred last Wednesday.

The house was sitting on the edge of the landslide in Balabala Crescent, Newtown . [image: Fijian Govt]

Kumar says the family is temporarily accommodated at the Newtown Seventh Day Adventist Hall until their house is built at a safer location.

She says the Ministry issued a letter to the family requesting them to vacate that area and the family took heed of their advice.

Kumar says the Ministry had to consult the Housing Authority of Fiji on the issue, as the lot was a subdivision of the Housing Authority of Fiji.

She says they after they consult the engineers of the Housing Authority of Fiji they discovered that the initial lot was bought in 2004 with a safe slope cut on the hill side.

She says the lot was later resold in 2016 and upon inspection by Nasinu Town Council in 2017, the safe slope cut was removed and a straight cut was made to the cliff to reclaim around 5 meters of land.

The Minister says with continued heavy rainfall in the last couple of days, it made it even faster for the soil and rocks to slide down the hill, resulting in blocked drains and flood waters entering into the homes of some residents at the foot of the hill.

Kumar further stated that it was important to adhere to relevant Regulations in place, when excavating a hillside given its detrimental effects, it was crucial that all steps were followed and relevant authorities informed.

She says it is extremely important to obtain the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities, before excavation work is carried out to avoid any risk to property, people or future development.

Kumar says with the assistance of the Ministry of Housings carpenters, the family’s home will be relocated and built within the same settlement.