RANGERS from the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park have voiced strong opposition to the proposed Sigatoka Iron Sands project, cautioning that offshore and coastal dredging could inflict irreversible damage on Fiji’s natural and cultural heritage.
Speaking on behalf of the National Trust of Fiji (NTF) at public consultations on Friday, park ranger Salome Nadredre urged the Department of Environment to reject the project until comprehensive assessments were conducted.
“The river, the river mouth, the beach, and the dunes are connected,” she said.
“Activities outside the boundary can still affect the park. Removing sand, dredging the river, and changing the river mouth could interrupt these processes.”
Ms Nadredre said the NTF council formally opposed proposals to reduce the mining setback from 100 metres to just 30 metres, demanding clear mapping and full transparency regarding extraction zones.
Beyond environmental degradation and shoreline erosion, Ms Nadredre highlighted threats to ancient archaeological remains preserved within the dunes.
“Once an archaeological site is disturbed or lost, it cannot simply be replaced.
“Planting vegetation afterwards would not restore that history.”
Concerns were also raised regarding community livelihoods specifically fishing, farming, and kai gathering alongside potential industrial disruptions to tourism.
Ms Nadredre said the park held tentative UNESCO World Heritage status, invoking statutory protections under the Fiji World Heritage Act.
“The Sigatoka Sand Dunes are part of Fiji’s natural and cultural heritage.
“We have a responsibility to protect them for the communities who live here, the people who visit, and the generations who will come after us.”
