The Fiji Roads Authority says it had conditioned the proposed Grace Road development along Princes Road in Tamavua to undertake and obtain approval of a Traffic Impact Assessment during the detailed design phase, but the requirement was not fulfilled before construction commenced.
FRA says the assessment was part of the initial development assessment criteria for the project.
The Authority says development commenced and the Traffic Impact Assessment component was not fulfilled, resulting in the approach taken by the Suva City Council to issue a Stop Work Order notice.
This comes as people are now openly supporting or going against the develpoment.
Sole Fintech Founder and Chairman, Semi Tukana has stated on his social media page that Grace Road's entry into the Fiji market is, indeed, refreshing, and they have lifted the retail shopping and eatery experience to another level.
He says they are the envy of many established businesses in Fiji and they have invested over hundreds of millions of dollars into the economy in addition to the interest paid to the amount they loaned from the Fiji Development Bank.
Tukana says he believes they have paid off their initial loans and there is nothing wrong with that.
He adds he is looking forward with great expectations to the completion of their Princes Road Complex in Suva, and he has heard that there will be a Restaurant and Gym on the 1st floor, overlooking the fabulous Suva Harbour.
Tukana says as a Princes Road resident, he no longer has to travel all the way to the City Centre or Albert Park or Laucala Bay to join a Gym.
He says he sees nothing wrong with this.
Tukana adds the new Princes Road complex is only a 2-storey building which will not cause new traffic in the area.
He says they are moving their stores located just up the road to this new location.
However Judy Compain who is a member of the Tamavua Action Group says success in business does not place anyone above the law.
Compain says the real issue is whether a developer can allegedly defy Stop Work Orders and ignore regulatory requirements while expecting residents to remain silent.
Compain stresses that they are not opposed to development.
She says they are opposed to the apparent disregard for the rules that every other citizen and developer is expected to follow.
