Water Authority of Fiji and their contractor, China Railway First Group had faced some major issues when a leaseholder was blocking the contractor from carrying out major infrastructure works to supply water to the new Marriott Resort in Momi and upgrade supply to the Nadi area.
The Authority hopes that good sense will prevail when they are dealing with landowners and tenants of leases with regards to not hindering progress with their many demands that cause project delays.
During a site visit to Solovi, Nadi, the Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Opetaia Ravai called for the cooperation and understanding of landowners and lease holders, whose land is crossed by the Authority’s reticulation system.
Ravai made the comments while assuring China Railway First Group that the Water Authority is doing it’s best to remove the obstacles being put in place by one particular tenant.
The tenant’s ongoing objections were delaying the contractor’s pipe laying work in Solovi from last year.
The tenant was obstructing construction by China Railway, and was asking for more money and trying to dictate work practices even after being compensated. He was already compensated last year but started demanding more money this year.
He says that the Solovi 500mm main replacement is very strategic in nature because it will assist supply to the Momi Bay Resort, with two kilometres of pipe being laid that will carry treated water from the Nagado Water Treatment Plant.
Ravai adds that this has a very high potential of boosting water supply into the Lolobalavu Reservoir, which will also boost supply into Nadi Town.
