THE controversial Waila City project – initially announced in 2011 as a $1 billion self-contained township development and shelved last year – is being revived with plans to develop the masterplan and scheme of the initial 200 acres for the Waila land parcel in Nausori.
Housing Authority of Fiji chief executive officer Isikeli Navuda said the revival of the development in Waila represented a milestone in the authority’s long-term housing strategy.
“The Waila development has the potential to become a model community, integrating housing with commercial services, schools, health facilities and recreational spaces,” Mr Navuda said.
“This is about more than just lots but building sustainable communities for future generations.”
Mr Navuda said the Waila Master Plan would be rolled out in stages to ensure that infrastructure kept pace with residential growth.
Alongside housing, he said plans included provisions for schools, shopping centres, medical services, community halls and green spaces to create a holistic and liveable environment.
Mr Navuda said they were working with Wood & Jepsen Consultants to finalise feasibility studies and technical reports.
“These include assessments of topography, flooding and drainage, geotechnical conditions, road networks, and key infrastructure services such as water, sewerage and electricity.”
He said the consultants would also evaluate how the new development would integrate with existing external access and utility networks.
In a statement yesterday, the Housing Authority said the 864 acres in Waila would be transformed into one of Fiji’s mixed-use developments, designed to provide a balance of residential, commercial, civic and industrial lots, alongside modern strata housing units.
The layout, it said, would support the existing infrastructure of schools, water treatment, sewerage treatment, drainage and open space reserves.
The authority had previously completed two phases of subdivision known as Waila 3A in 1994 and Waila 3B in 2006.
This Waila scheme plan comprises of Residential B, which is expected to generate 266 lots, and Residential Lots C and D are expected to generate 904 lots.
Once fully developed, Waila is expected to deliver around 5000 residential lots and 3000 housing units, potentially accommodating between 40,000 to 50,000 families.
Mr Navuda said this scale of development positioned Waila as a gamechanger in addressing Fiji’s growing urban housing demand, particularly along the Suva-Nausori corridor.
He said the Waila development would play a critical role in easing housing shortages, reducing informal settlements and provide families with secure homeownership opportunities.
“We are now in a position to turn that vision into reality, and in doing so, contribute meaningfully to national housing needs and economic growth.”
