The Tamavua Action Group (TAG) has urged the Government to challenge a recent High Court ruling that denied their request for Stay of Execution Orders concerning the Great Han development project. The ruling focused narrowly on the authorization of additional floors on Buildings 1 and 2, which TAG argues overlooks the larger implications of the entire six-building project that has yet to undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or receive an approved Environmental Action Plan.
TAG expressed its disappointment that the case was framed in such a limited manner, insisting that the development has not fulfilled the necessary requirements under the Environment Management Act. They highlighted that the Technical Review Committee in 2023 specifically identified the dangers of advancing the project without an EIA, pointing to ongoing geological hazards in the region as well as significant traffic congestion along Princes Road and ongoing water supply issues faced by residents of Tamavua.
In its statement, TAG voiced concerns regarding the reliance on assurances from the Mineral Resources Department (MRD), which suggested that geological faults near the Tamavua-i-Wai ridge could be considered negligible. Engineers Fiji has reportedly indicated that the geological assessments conducted by MRD are not sufficiently thorough for the scale of the Great Han project, adding to TAG’s worries that the courts may not be fully apprised of the potential dangers aligned with the development.
Moreover, TAG warned that the dismissal of environmental requirements for this project could create a troubling precedent for other large-scale developments, potentially leading to increased requests for exemptions from environmental protections. The group stressed the importance of appealing this ruling, emphasizing broader issues of environmental preservation, public safety, and the necessity of long-term planning for significant developments moving forward.
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