Location: Lower Civic Auditorium Hall, Suva
Chair, Special Administrators of Suva City Council – Mr Isikeli Tikoduadua,
Special Administrators,
CEO, Suva City Council – Mr Azam Khan,
President, Construction Industry Council of Fiji – Mr. Gordon Jenkins
President, Fiji Association of Architects – Mr. Vijay Sharma
President, Fiji Institute of Engineers – Mr. Nathan Kirk
Representatives of Industry Associations,
Invited Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Bula Vinaka and a very good afternoon to you all.
It is a pleasure to be here with the key stakeholders of the economy — the building and construction sector. Today’s Workshop by the Suva City Council is timely to inform you, the industry stakeholders, of the Development Permit requirements and processes.
The reason why we are gathered at this workshop is to listen to you. We want to hear the challenges you and your agents face with the current System, and come up with solutions to improve it.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The city of Suva has long been the hub of development in building and construction. In 2020, the Suva City Council issued 393 permits compared to 278 permits issued in 2019. This represents a 70 percent increase in construction permits and mostly importantly, the continued confidence of investors — despite the pandemic.
It is vital that local authorities play a lead role in ensuring that these investments are realised. You have to look long term. Remember, you are essentially the first point of contact for potential investors. If your customers recognise you for good and timely service, that immediately translates into increased economic activities.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
One of the main impediments identified in issuing building or construction permits has been the prior need for rezoning almost all properties. This causes delay and lot of angst for all involved. The main reason for this is: our City Planning Scheme for Suva dates back to 1979. The City Planning Scheme has since undergone piecemeal amendments, over the years, through various rezoning or relaxations from the approved City Planning Scheme 1979.
Our towns and cities have significantly evolved over the years. For example, areas that were previously designated as residential zones are now subsumed into the expanding commercial and industrial zones.
This means, Schemes for Suva also need to evolve to the present demand and economic situations. We need to reevaluate the zones against the changing needs and the pressures applied to the old boundaries of our municipality. To do this, the Suva City Council needs to enlist experts, such as developers, engineers, architects, investor agents, to name a few. In other words, all of you. The input from industry players is critical in terms of creating a vision for the City of Suva for the next 20 or 50 years.
In this regard, the Suva City Council is expected to commence work on a review City Planning Scheme within the next two months. Once the review is completed, the revised City Planning Scheme will be submitted to the Director Town and Country Planning for consideration before the end of 2021.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Whilst it is important to review town scheme plans, as the nation grows, it is equally important to modernise application and approval processes.
In this regard, the Suva City Council is setting an example for other municipalities. They have been actively involved with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport in doing business reforms, especially on obtaining construction permits.
We are making great strides through important reforms that will shape how we do business in Fiji and how we position ourselves as a premier investment destination today, and in the years to come. These reforms are extremely important, especially as we prepare for economic recovery. Fiji needs to emerge stronger and ready to welcome investors, and new business in the post-COVID era.
Key reforms that have been completed include, removal of business license, online registration of company or business name, online tax registration, removal of stamp duties, to name a few. For the first time, we have an online portal for doing business -bizFIJI. Currently, the portal provides step-by-step process, guidelines, checklists and application forms for starting a business and obtaining construction permits.
The end goal is to have business related information and approvals digitalised. Simply said, the submission of applications and approvals will be completely online.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In order to realise this, we need major policy changes. These changes will include moving to risk-based inspection of construction sites, identification of qualified professionals, developers, builders, engineers, architects, etc. taking on more responsibility for projects.
We not only want to achieve faster turnaround and standardised procedures for approvals, but also to improve and maintain the standard of buildings being constructed.
Therefore, we are calling upon all of you, the industry players, to also contribute to the revision of policies and processes. To have a transparent and efficient solution, both the agencies and stakeholders need to give equal commitment and take on equal responsibility.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We all know that in order to apply for building permits, you need approved development permits, which is phase one of a three phase process. To better understand processes and requirements of phase one – obtaining development permits, today’s workshop is very important.
In the workshop, we will hear from the Suva City Council on the current systems and processes for development permit management. It is also an opportunity for stakeholders to suggest improvements. Therefore, the feedback from Fiji Institute of Engineers and the Fiji Association of Architects is critical to ensure that an efficient process is in place.
The outcomes of today’s workshop should set the minimum best practice and requirements for not only Suva, but the other main towns and cities, in terms of development permits. We want a standardised procedure to be followed all across Fiji. The Suva City Council has always set the example and standard. And the development permits management process agreed to today should be replicated across all municipalities.
To take forward the outcome of the workshop, the Ministry of Local Government will work with Suva City Council to present a policy paper to the Hon. Minister on standardisation of development permit requirements.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Fijian Government continues to prioritise reforms that are critical for the growth of existing and new industries and businesses – more so during this time when we need new investments.
These reforms, ladies and gentlemen, will essentially form the blueprint of our roadmap to economic recovery. So, while we commit to having a more conducive environment for new investments to flourish – we need cooperation from all of you in moving forward the construction sector. These reforms will not work without your partnership.
With these words, I look forward to constructive discussions and definitive outcomes for the enhancement of processes for the building and construction sector.
Thank you and Vinaka vakalevu.