Serea, Nauluwai and Vanuakula Villages rural water projects the first to benefit

The contract signed between the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) Rural and Maritime Water Supply Unit and Taviraki Building and Civil Works heralds a different process by which water projects will be delivered to rural communities.

WAF is outsourcing the construction of rural water projects, with Serea, Nauluwai and Vanuakula Villages in Naitasiri the first to benefit.

Contracts have also been signed with WAF by a Water Committee representative from each village and a representative from the relevant Provincial Council Office. This ensures that each village will provide accommodation for the company employees installing their water supply.

“Additionally, and of even greater significance, not only will these contracts see each village supplying labour to assist in the water project construction, which is still mandatory as in previous years, but also, there will be a financial reward for their efforts, with payment being made into their respective village Water Committee bank accounts,” said WAF chief executive, Opetaia Ravai.

“This will ensure the longevity and sustainability of their village water supply systems, by providing the Water Committees with the funds for ongoing maintenance and repairs.

“As this is the first time WAF has outsourced rural water projects, we have selected those in easily accessible villages for ease of monitoring progress.”

The Serea Village project will cost $426,020, the Vanuakula Village project, $178,978, and the Nauluwai Village project, $142,553 – a total WAF investment of $747,550 – with another 35 rural projects possibly being outsourced this year.

Prior to this, since 2010, WAF has always carried out all construction work, with the respective villages supplying additional labour.

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