Six informal settlements across the country are set to undergo significant upgrades as part of the Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE) initiative. The enhancements will feature new rock-lined drainage systems, footpaths, boardwalks, and the installation of twelve wetpods distributed among the six areas.
The settlements selected for this project are Komave, Nauluvatu, Matata, Vunibua, Wailea, and Muanivatu. Minister for Housing and Local Government, Maciu Nalumisa, announced details of the RISE project at its launch held at the Fiji National University on Wednesday.
Mr. Nalumisa outlined the planned improvements, which include activities such as backfilling for waterlogged zones, setting up 74 pressure tanks across six locations, establishing six communal sewer tanks, and constructing three treatment wetlands in Komave, Nauluvatu, and Vunibua. A demonstration site featuring multiple pressure tanks and treatment wetlands will be created at Tamavua-i-wai.
The RISE program aims to significantly reduce the risk of community exposure to contamination by at least 80 percent through these developments.
Emphasizing the initiative’s goal of inclusivity, Mr. Nalumisa referred to the theme “Leaving no one behind: Partnership for improving community health through safely managed sanitation for all.” He confirmed that the Coalition Government, through the Ministry of Housing, is dedicated to supporting the RISE initiative, ensuring that all Fijians have access to safe and affordable housing and essential services.
For the fiscal year 2023-2024, the government has approved $1 million in funding, with an additional $1 million allocated for the 2024-2025 budget. The ministry is also reviewing the 2011 National Housing Policy as part of an institutional reform to better address the challenges of rapid urban growth and enhance land development through improved planning.
This project is being implemented with the support of Monash University, with governance and oversight provided by both the Ministry of Housing and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZMFAT).
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