THE five official objectors to the proposed rezoning of Shirley Park in Lautoka have called for a new round of consultations with the director of Town and Country Planning because they claim the first public meeting on February 2 was not to their expectations.

The protestors — Orange Coast Investment Ltd, Patricia Fraser, Reddy Group Holdings, Chandar Lok and Concerned Ratepayers and Natabua Residents — had submitted their complaint on the development within the required time limit last year and were invited by the Department of Town and Country Planning to a public consultation to voice their concerns.

However, three of the objectors claim they were not alerted about the public consultation nor were they given an official invite from the department.

Orange Coast Investment Ltd director Charan Jeet Singh said he was alerted a few days before the scheduled meeting.

“I wasn’t given enough time to prepare my objections because I was only informed about the consultations two days before it was to happen,” he said.

“I don’t think the proper procedures were followed when informing those that were supposed to be part of the consultations.”

He said on the day, more than 100 people showed up at the Fiji Sugar Cane Growers Council hall to voice their concerns.

Several attempts to get comments on the issue from the Lautoka City Council and the Department of Town and Country Planning proved unsuccessful.