The Suva High Court has today dismissed the Stay of Execution orders of 20th November 2024 in its entirety.
An extension of 14 days is granted to the Director of Environment and the Attorney General of Fiji to appeal the ruling of November 20, 2024 and move the appeal for hearing together with the Grounds of Appeal accordingly.
The Suva High Court has ruled there will be no order as to costs against the parties to the proceedings.
The proponent had earlier appealed to the Environment Tribunal, which granted approval for the construction of Building 1 and 2.
The Department of Environment then appealed the Tribunal’s decision to the High Court, and that appeal has been heard with its ruling to be issued.
According to the Department, it had carried out a comprehensive technical review of the updated Construction and Operational Environmental Management Plans.
The review identified gaps in critical documentation, including the absence of a Traffic Impact Assessment, detailed interpretive analysis of geotechnical components, and others.
They had said that these are essential to ensure structural integrity and public safety, particularly given the active fault line and geotechnical risks in the Tamavua Ridge area.
Based on expert advice from the Technical Review Committee, the Department determined that the submission was insufficient and therefore did not recommend approval of the revised building plans.
The previous approved construction plan was for a single multi-storey building, which was then changed following an ownership change.
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