The High Court in Suva has recently ruled against the Director of Environment’s request to halt the construction of buildings one and two at the Great Han International Princess Road Apartment complex until an appeal is resolved. Justice Vishwa Datt Sharma delivered the ruling following the Director’s application and the Attorney-General’s motion seeking a temporary stay of execution on prior orders.
In his ruling, Justice Sharma highlighted that a stop-work order was already in effect for buildings three and four, as well as five and six, which were halted under directives from both the Suva City Council (SCC) and the Mineral Resources Department. Meanwhile, work on buildings one and two is reportedly nearing completion.
The SCC initially granted Great Han International a building permit back in 2017, and the construction site underwent mandatory inspections throughout different construction phases. This ongoing project has faced scrutiny from community members, specifically a group called the Tamavua Action Group, which raised concerns regarding the lack of a geotechnical survey prior to the commencement of construction, alleging risks to local residents.
Despite these challenges, the Environment Tribunal ruled in November 2024 in favor of Great Han International, allowing the continuation of work specifically on buildings one and two. After reviewing the situation and arguments put forth, Justice Sharma dismissed the Director of Environment’s request for a stay, indicating he found no substantial grounds to support halting the project.
Interestingly, Justice Sharma also questioned the validity of the SCC’s decision to issue a building permit without the completion of a geotechnical survey, suggesting a possible oversight in the initial approval process.
The court has allowed the appellants a 14-day period to challenge the Environment Tribunal’s decision, indicating that the legal proceedings surrounding this construction project are likely to continue. This ruling may pave the way for Great Han International to move forward, while also emphasizing the need for thorough assessments to ensure community safety in future developments.
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