The Department of Environment has officially ordered a halt to construction at the Great Han Residential Development located on Princess Road in Suva.
This decision comes after the department learned on September 5 that the Suva City Council (SCC) had lifted a previous stop work order. In response, the Environment Department initiated an investigation and met with the relevant parties to assess whether the SCC’s decision was consistent with environmental regulations.
The investigation revealed that Great Han did not adhere to the conditions set by the SCC, which stated that development could only continue once the Department of Environment’s requirements were fulfilled, according to its earlier decision. Consequently, on September 24, the Department issued a new stop work order in accordance with Section 43 of the Environment Management Act 2005.
Concerns regarding the Great Han Residential Development were initially raised in 2015 when nearby residents expressed their discontent about the cordoned-off area. Over the years, residents have continued to voice their opposition, particularly during a consultation in October of the previous year that included Local Government Ministry representatives and developers. A significant concern raised was the lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
To amplify their concerns, neighboring residents established the Tamavua Action Group, aiming to present a collective viewpoint on the development issue. When contacted for comment, a representative from Great Han Residential Development indicated that they could not discuss the stop work order, although a formal statement from the directors might follow.