The Department of Environment has issued a stop work order for the Great Han Residential Development located on Princess Road in Suva.
In a statement released this morning, the Department indicated that it became aware on September 5 of the Suva City Council’s (SCC) decision to lift the stop work order on the project. Following this, the Department undertook its own investigation and engaged with the involved parties to assess if the SCC’s action aligned with its environmental policies.
The Department found that the Great Han developers had not adhered to the SCC’s conditions for resuming work, which required compliance with the Department of Environment following a previous decline decision. Consequently, the Department formally implemented a stop work order on September 24, in accordance with Section 43 of the Environment Management Act 2005.
The controversy surrounding the Great Han Residential Development dates back to 2015 when the area was cordoned off, prompting significant concerns from local residents. Over the years, residents have consistently voiced their objections, especially during a consultation in October of the previous year that included officials from the Local Government Ministry and the developers. One major issue raised was the alleged lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
To consolidate their concerns, neighboring residents established the Tamavua Action Group, aiming to present a united front regarding the development. When approached by Fiji One News, a spokesperson for Great Han Residential Development stated they could not comment on the stop work order, indicating that any response from the directors would be issued in the form of a statement.