After more than four decades, the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) has restarted land subdivision work in Ba, signaling a renewed push to develop native lands.
TLTB Chief Executive Solomoni Nata said nearly nine acres of TLTB land in the Varavu subdivision were carefully surveyed and divided to create new opportunities for landowners to develop their properties. Infrastructure upgrades have been completed, including road works, electricity lines, and a wired water supply, all at an estimated investment of about one million dollars. The Varavu subdivision will span nine acres and yield 26 lots for development.
Nata outlined the broader plan, noting that this move is aligned with the board’s new strategic direction under the current government, new staff, and a refreshed leadership. He indicated that another subdivision is planned for Tailevu in the near future, with an expectation that landowners will actively maximize the benefits and commence development.
This marks the first subdivision since the Native Land Development Commission’s activities in the 1980s. In Ba, the Varavu project demonstrates how TLTB aims to unlock productive use of land that has long awaited development, empowering landowners to build housing, farms, or small businesses.
The initiative fits into a wider, ongoing effort by TLTB to return land to native landowners. In recent years, the board has highlighted progress in returning Schedule A and B lands to rightful owners, reflecting a broader drive to rectify historical land issues and strengthen community resilience. The Tailevu subdivision is expected to follow Varavu, reinforcing the pattern of turning long-held land rights into tangible development opportunities.
Commentators note that such subdivision activity not only boosts local economies but also reinforces cultural ties to land and supports sustainable, community-driven growth. As landowners gain clearer tenure and improved infrastructure, opportunities for investment, farming, and small-scale enterprise are likely to rise, contributing to broader economic development within Fiji’s iTaukei communities.
Summary: The Varavu subdivision in Ba represents a meaningful step in TLTB’s renewed land development program, combining infrastructure upgrades with a strategic push to return land to indigenous owners and unlock new revenue and development opportunities for local families. The planned Tailevu subdivision signals ongoing momentum in this nationwide effort.
Potential added value: This development could attract ancillary services and jobs for nearby communities, spur improvements in local utilities, and encourage coordinated land-use planning that respects traditional ownership while enabling modern development.
Leave a comment