Princpipal environment officer Senivasa Waqairamasi told the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday that Freesoul Real Estate Development (Fiji) PTE Ltd had misled the Department of Environment during the environment impact assessment (EIA) process.
She said this while being crossed-examined by Freesoul lawyer David Toganivalu.
She told the court that Freesoul had received their EIA approval for both Wacia and Qalilawa at Malolo Island from the director of environment on December 24, 2018 and was based on an EIA report submitted to the department by the company through its EIA registered consultant.
Qalilawa, she said, had not been included in the EIA screening application initially but was added in the EIA report by Freesoul. She alleged the registered consultant for the EIA report had provided misleading information in the EIA report.
She also claimed that there was still a breach issue by the company after the issuing of the prohibition notice (PN) dated June 1, 2018. She told the court that Freesoul continued development works at the site after the issuance of the PN.
She told the court that in October, 2018, the department had conducted public consultation at Solevu Village attended by hoteliers for the purpose of the EIA review process for Freesoul.
Freesoul is facing allegations of undertaking unauthorised developments at Wacia and Qalilawa and of failure to comply with a prohibition notice.
The trial continues tomorrow.
