Advisory Plan Rural Growth Centres

The Naqara-Wairiki Advisory Plan will be the first planning document for Taveuni and for long the planning has been carried out in ad-hoc basis through the consideration of rezoning, subdivision and development building applications. There is an absence of a proper strategic planning being done to guide planning in Taveuni. The lack of a proper blueprint to guide planning, urban and rural zoning management poses considerable issues due to substandard planning approvals and practices.

The Naqara-Wairiki Advisory Plan, which will be an important one as it seeks to coordinate and guide development, and most importantly open up (through the release of appropriate land uses) socio-economic activities that boost the local and national economy. It will provide a clear vision and framework on the future development of Taveuni and which will highly assist the Department and land custodians that is the i’Taukei Land Trust Board and Department of Lands in its decision making process through good land management principles and urban and regional spatial planning.

The proposed study boundary has been untaken to cover the stretch of land between the existing shopping center of Naqara to Wairiki. The plan focusses on this main key main transport corridor which is facing high development pressure where most of the government services, commercial, industrial and hype of trade and activities are undertaken.

The study area was selected due to the:

• • Strong need for a strategic plan to provide a much-needed strategic direction to ensure the inevitable growth on Taveuni will occur in a meaningful and sustainable manner over the coming years. There is already a lot of demand and potential existing on the island which could be turned into benefits for growth.
  • Existing Sporadic and scattered development which demands a cohesion.
  • Dire need for a proper Public Facilities including Market, Bus Stand, Open Space, Convenience
  • Responsibility to foster investment through efficient and effective allocations of land uses.
  • Significant and strategic location of Naqara in its place in Taveuni and also taking into consideration the development trends in Taveuni. The proposed plan coincides with the Government policy to shift development focus towards the North.

From the beginning of this financial year, the Department of Town and Country Planning is working on the preparation of an Advisory plan for the area around the Nadarivatu Government station. The site is located in the interior of Ba and was set up by the colonial government as a Satellite Town to provide services for the people in interior of this region. However in 2013, government first mooted the idea during a roadshow held in Nadarivatu that the government station be upgraded to provide better services such as provision of spaces for a post office, banks and supermarkets.

The then Minister for Rural and Maritime Development Lieutenant Colonel Inia Seruiratu said that the government plans to open an Agriculture Collection Market where farmers can sell their produce. He also highlighted the launch of the International Fund for Agricultural Development to support the Nadarivatu Development Project. The Nadarivatu Development Project will open up opportunities for farmers to grow more off-season crops and vegetables and then sell them to the main markets and hotels.

DTCP is preparing this Advisory Plan to assist the government to properly put into place a town plan to ensure that the development of Nadarivatu is carried out in a strategic and sustainable manner in consultation with all stakeholders.

In the bid to bridging the gap between urban and rural, the Department of Town and Country Planning has identified Vunidawa as a Growth Centre that needs strengthening and empowerment.

The current infrastructure in place is able to cater for existing and proposed land uses. It is the Department’s role to identify the needs of the area, designate appropriate land uses to enable functionality, and promote investment.

The COVID19 pandemic has hindered the progress of the Vunidawa Plan, and the team has re-strategized its timelines and plan, in order to meet the deliverables.

So far, the following exercises have been completed;

• • Preliminary scoping
  • Surveying and digitization
  •  Mapping
  • 1st stakeholders’ consultation