Levuka Mayor Councillor George Gibson was a worried man.
According to an article published in The Fiji Times on April 2, 1997, titled ‘Levuka Seawall SOS’, the Old Capital’s seawall along its main street was badly damaged and in urgent need of repairs.
Cr Gibson warned that if repairs were not carried out immediately, the town risked losing the seawall altogether.
He said the structure, originally built by engineers from England in the 1850s, had been severely damaged after Cyclone Gavin which struck the country the previous month.
The Levuka Town Council was seeking Government assistance to carry out urgent repairs.
“The council asked for Government assistance soon after Cyclone Gavin hit us, with a quotation of $120,000 as an approximate sum,” Cr Gibson said.
“However, we are still waiting for confirmation.”
He said waves had gradually eroded the seawall and, if this continued, Levuka could lose parts of it.
Recent repair work had also been destroyed by Cyclone Gavin, leaving the area dangerous for pedestrians who frequented Beach St.
Warning signs had been erected to alert the public to gaping holes along the edge of the road.
Cr Gibson said the structure of the seawall had weakened significantly, with the greatest risk being the possible loss of sections of the road.
“If we can get a seawall that is renewed right through, I think that will last us another 100 years.”
He said he would like to see a more secure seawall, similar to the one along the Pacific Fishing Company (PAFCO) building.
“The seawall is one of the beauty spots of the town, and people benefit from it as they often sit along the wall to relax and watch the sunset,” he said.
Cr Gibson noted that the Government would be the council’s first source of assistance, after which they would seek overseas funding, although he acknowledged that “it would be a long process”.
