Vuda development risks water quality, sports tourism - Fiji Outrigger

Fiji Outrigger is urging the Department of Environment to reject the proposed Energy-from-Waste Industrial Precinct and private port development in Vuda, saying the long-term environmental and sporting costs outweigh the benefits of industrial expansion in the area.

Fiji Outrigger says Vuda is one of Fiji’s key venues for outrigger canoeing and if access or water quality is affected, it could disrupt the national regatta calendar and reduce opportunities for local athletes to compete and develop.

They say  the coastal waters are not just scenic, they are central to some of the country’s biggest paddling events, drawing both local clubs and international competitors.

According to Fiji Outrigger, the area supports a busy regatta schedule and plays a major role in developing grassroots talent through clubs such as the Vuda Outrigger Canoe Club.

They argue that any large-scale industrial project in the area could place this sporting ecosystem at risk.

The federation has raised several concerns in its submission to the Department of Environment.

Chief among them is the potential for environmental damage to Vuda’s coastline and marine habitats, which they say would be incompatible with a water-based sport that depends on clean and accessible waters.

There are also worries about the broader knock-on effects.

Fiji Outrigger warns that if water quality declines or access becomes restricted, it could reduce sports tourism, affecting visiting athletes and recreational paddlers who contribute to the local economy during events.

Beyond sports and tourism, the federation says Fiji’s international reputation could also be impacted.

Vuda is seen within the global outrigger canoeing community as a respected racing venue, and any perceived degradation could discourage international participation in future events hosted in Fiji.

At the heart of their objection is the fear that the development could effectively remove a key competition site from the national calendar, forcing major adjustments to how and where races are held across the country.

The federation has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Fiji’s coastal environments, stressing that the future of the sport depends on preserving natural paddling waters like those in Vuda.