The team behind the proposed Vuda Waste-to-Energy plant warned Wednesday that Fiji’s tourism boom is driving an urgent waste and public health challenge, while technical advisers said the facility’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) shows emissions would meet regulatory limits. The second public consultation on the Saweni, Lautoka project wrapped up as officials urged residents to lodge final submissions to the Environment Department before the consultation period closes tomorrow.
Rob Cromb, project proponent from The Next Generation Pte Ltd, told the forum that greater visitor numbers have a direct downside if waste systems do not keep pace. “The cost of doing nothing means polluted beaches damage our brand, our streets, our environment and our villages,” he said, calling current conditions near some communities “a public health crisis.” Cromb referred to the EIA as documenting increased risks for dengue and other avoidable diseases if waste is not properly managed, and urged that waste solutions be prioritised alongside tourism growth.
Technical assurances for the proposed Vuda plant came from David Gamble, senior technical director at consulting firm GHD, who briefed attendees on the EIA findings. Gamble said all modelled emissions from the facility comply with environmental standards and that there would be no odour exceedances from the site. He added that the project design includes ongoing environmental monitoring to track real-world impacts if the plant proceeds.
The consultation is the latest step in the statutory EIA process for the Waste-to-Energy proposal sited in Vuda, Saweni, on the outskirts of Lautoka. Proponents say the plant would provide an alternative to open dumping and uncontrolled fires at local landfills, a recurring public health and nuisance concern for western Fiji communities. Residents and civil society groups have attended the consultation to question impacts on air quality, health and local livelihoods; the EIA report and associated submissions will now be compiled for consideration by the Environment Department.
The debate over the Vuda proposal unfolds against a backdrop of high-profile waste problems and nascent recycling initiatives across Fiji. Last year’s prolonged fires at the Vunato landfill in Lautoka drew attention to the health hazards of uncontrolled waste sites, while urban programmes such as Suva’s Return and Earn scheme and private-sector recycling efforts by hotels like Tanoa Plaza have shown local steps to divert recyclable materials. Proponents of the Vuda plant argue a centralised treatment facility could complement these efforts by reducing the volume of waste sent to open dumps.
With public feedback due by tomorrow, stakeholders said they expect a final compilation of submissions to inform the Environment Department’s assessment. The department will consider those submissions as part of its decision-making process on whether to approve the project, require further mitigation measures, or call for additional studies.
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