TRADITIONAL land and qoliqoli owners of a peninsula earmarked for a resort development outside Lautoka are mulling over the project, amid concerns that it could impact on their livelihoods.
Developer, Oldzone Corporation Ltd (“Oldzone”), is seeking permission to work on about 100 hectares of the scenic foreshore site located midway between Vuda and Lauwaki Village to attract resort investments.
Yesterday, the firm held its environmental impact assessment presentation at Vuda.
The loss of 44 hectares of mangrove habitat and several sand islands, as well as 7.4 hectares of reef platform habitat were noted among the project’s potential ecological and water quality impacts.
The earmarked site, Naikorokoro, sits west of Saweni Bay and is traditionally owned by the tokatoka Wadigi from Lauwaki Village in Vuda, Lautoka.
“This would be a big development and our concern is the removal of mangroves because that’s where our main source of food and income come from every day,” said tokatoka spokesperson Api Nasalo.
“We catch crabs every day from these mangroves and sell these by the roadside so if this project goes ahead, it would be a loss to our future generations.”
The landowners requested the developers to travel to Lauwaki for a site visit.
Mr Nasalo said the environment impact assessment presentation had given them more insight into the project, which would be the first resort development on their land if given the green light.
