A FIFTH generation resident of Fiji’s Kulukulu coastal corridor has voiced fierce opposition to the proposed Sigatoka Iron Sands Project, warning that industrial dredging threatens sacred ancestral roots, fragile marine ecosystems and traditional land resources.
George Steele raised grave concerns over plans by Magma Mines Pte Ltd to conduct riverine and coastal extraction along the Sigatoka River mouth and shoreline.
His deep family ties to the land drive his firm resistance, as heavy mineral extraction directly threatens traditional fishing grounds, natural coastal barriers, and irreplaceable historical landmarks.
Under Special Prospecting Licence 1495, Magma Mines aims to extract magnetite, zircon, ilmenite, and construction sand but the proximity to the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park, which is home to ancient Lapita artefacts and human remains, has sparked severe community outrage.
“We are totally against this. If they start working here, what’s going to happen to the river?
“As it is, the river’s gone, it’s gone shallow, when I was a little kid, the river used to be really deep. But now, all this mining thing coming up now, I think everybody’s just after the money.”
Mr Steele said that developers showed little concern for land preservation despite the area’s heritage status.
He said that natural wind patterns and sand movement were already compromised, cautioning that government officials have overlooked these issues for years.
Critics warn that dredging riverbeds could accelerate coastal erosion, disturb local water tables, and destroy marine life vital to community livelihoods.
Mr Steele urged residents to formally file objections with the Department of Environment before public consultations close on October 30, emphasising that long-term ecological balance must take priority over short-term resource extraction.
