ABOUT $17million is being invested to strengthen community-based drainage and maintenance projects being undertaken by the Waterways Ministry in the 2024/2025 calendar year.
Minister Vatimi Rayalu named these projects in a written response to a query posed in Parliament about the number of projects undertaken by the ministry in the current financial year, how many of the projects were funded locally and by donor agencies per division and what the current updates of each project were.
Mr Rayalu explained these projects were carried out to enhance the waterways, improve drainage and irrigation, mitigate flooding and climate-related risks.
He said in the 2024/2025 financial year, the ministry implemented nine work programs nationwide, which constituted $F16.65m of investment from the state and four donor projects worth $480,000.
The projects include the following:
Drainage and flood protection program
Under this initiative, at least nine sites were chosen for riverbank stabilisation projects. The locations and costs identified by the minister are:
n Sawani Village, Naitasiri – $280,000.
n Matainoco Village Rewa – $300,000.
n Naivilaca Village, Rewa – $350,000.
n Bualomanikoro Village, Bua – $80,000.
n Waciwaci Village, Lakeba – $250,000.
n Yavusania Village, Nadi – $200,000.
n Naviyago Village, Lautoka – $280,000.
n Mavua Village, Nadroga/Navosa – $50,000.
n Navakaka Village, Cakaudrove – $270,000.
Coastal protection program
Nine projects relating to coastal protection were earmarked for areas ranging from Tailevu to Ra.
These are:
n Ovea Village, Tailevu – $650,000.
n Nasilai Village, Tailevu – $50,000.
n Lakeba Hospital, Lakeba-Lau – $281,620.
n Nawaisomo Village, Beqa – $241,022.75.
n Navolau 1 Village, Ra – $200,000.
n Somosomo Village, Taveuni $30,000.
n Marou Village, Yasawa – $50,000.
n Ketei Village, Totoya – Lau -$250,000.
n Navunievu Village, Bua – $70,000.
Watershed management program
Mr Rayalu said the ministry had also begun constructing the Qalinabulu Creek Flood Retention Dam, located in the Upper Ba River Catchment. The project was worth $350,000.
“Complementing this, the river dredging program is nearing completion of 3 kilometres of the Ba river-mouth channel worth $6,508,745, with 373,000 cubic meters of silt removed to mitigate flooding,” he said.
He said as per the irrigation support for farm development program, 15 irrigation kits worth $138,000 were distributed to farmers in the Western, Central and Eastern Divisions to combat drought.
“Additionally, a gravity-fed irrigation dam has been completed at Vola Settlement, Cakaudrove, worth $69,000.”
Mr Rayalu also confirmed that seven out of eight rice irrigation schemes were successfully maintained.
All these projects in Navua, Dreketi, Nasarawaqa, Korokadi, Droca, Bua and Vunivau cost $21,428.57.
Maintenance of drainage systems (non-municipal) program
Mr Rayalu said this program fell under the purview of the re-established drainage boards.
He said the Central Division Drainage Board had completed works at Korovisilou Village, Serua ($39,600), military ground at Bayview Heights ($11,500), Dreketi, Rewa ($42,228), Namara, Tailevu ($13,476), Serua ($1380), Matainavuso Creek, Tailevu ($29,670), Sauniwaqa, Rewa ($23,000) and Koronivia ($18,975).
He said the Northern Division Drainage Board was working on flood gate installations at Novoalau, Malau, Korovatu, Nagigi, Wailevu and Soasoa, valued at about $94,500.
In addition, Mr Rayalu said desilting works were earmarked for Vuniyalayala, Waikisi, Sarava, Kelikoso, Bocalevu, Qelewaqa, Belego, Nabua Area 2, Droca Area 2, Korotari Area 2, Korokadi Areas 1 & 2, Valelawa Area 1, Dreketi Stage 2, Nasarawaqa and Dreketi Irrigation.
These projects have a cost of $232,150.
Meanwhile, earth-bund seawall upkeep at Wailevu, Tiri, Soaosa, Nagigi, and Naleba will come at a cost of $7000.
He said the Western Division Drainage Board was conducting drainage improvements at Raviravi, Navatu, and Togalevu (Ba), at a cost of $50,337, Solovi, Nadi ($35,088), Nabuna, Toko, and Balata (Tavua) ($60,078), Caboni, Rakiraki ($10,350), Drasa and Naviyago (Lautoka) ($67,803) and Lomawai Scheme (Sigatoka) ($47,633).
“As a result of delays in the tender process for machinery hire contracts in the Northern, Central, and Eastern divisions, the drainage for rural residential and drainage for farmlands programs were exclusively implemented in the Western Division this year,” Mr Rayalu said.
“These contracts are expected to commence smoothly next financial year.
“The rural residential program covers Vunikavika Settlement, Naqalimare and Rakirakilevu, Nasau, Wailoko, Buabua, Togalevu, Sigave, Mataniqara, Votua, Vanuakoula, Tavualevu, Nabuna, Balata, Nasivi, Natawa, Korovou, Namara and Matawailevu.”
Mr Rayalu said the farmlands program included Naqalimare Village, Tonuve, Nadrala, Muka, Ciri, Jubeirata, Waibogi Settlement, Naisoso, Naboutini, Nawaicoba, Buabua, Busabusa, Varoko, Vanuakoula, Mataniwai, Nabuna, Rarapatu, Rukuruku, Qalau, Penang, Waimicia, Malau, Colasi and Volivoli.
“These initiatives are vital to addressing both immediate and long-term challenges in water management and agricultural productivity.”
Importance of local and donor support
Mr Rayalu said the ministry was in the process of finalising a $US5.2m ($F11.7m) grant agreement with Pacific Community through the Adaptation Fund Project.
This will focus on strengthening the adaptive capacity of Fiji’s coastal communities to climate change through nature-based seawalls.
The grant would fund 14 nature-based seawalls at Tagaqe and Nabila Village in Nadroga/Navosa, Nayavuira Village, Nayavutoka Village and Saioko Village in Ra, Qaranivai Village, Soqobiau Village, Visoqo Village and Namama Village in Macuata, Saqani Village, Sese Village, Tawake Village and Loa Village in Cakaudrove and Nabuna Village, Koro Island, in Lomaiviti.
“The ministry is dedicated to maintaining transparency and efficiency, ensuring that all project updates are accessible to the public via our official portal.”
