Goundar Shipping man­aging director George Goundar said he would be holding meetings with land­owners on Friday to sort more things out before the land would be ready for the construction of the new $5 million wharf.

The land being sought to build the wharf is alongside the freehold land Goundar Shipping had already pur­chased.

The landowners had ear­lier met with the iTaukei Land Trust Board officials and would discuss a few is­sues raised in the meeting with Mr Goundar.

Mr Goundar said the move to build the wharf looked positive and would utilise and add value to the land with some development and activity on the Tailevu north coast.

Mr Goundar said he had solidi­fied talks with the landowners and would be liaising with all relevant parties to see the wharf built.

He said he was the freehold land he had purchased but would be li­aising with the people of the area and would have to seek the help of Government if there was any objec­tion from the people.

The Ratu of Namena, Tui Nawainovo, Ratu Filimoni Verebalavu had made a comment last month that there was no consent by the people of Tailevu North and the land Mr Goundar claimed he se­cured was not true.

“What he (Mr Goundar) claims is not true,” Ratu Filimoni said.

“All the coast is our iqoliqoli and no consent has been given to him.”

But Mr Goundar said he would work things out with all relevant stakeholders to construct the wharf.

He said one of the main issues would be to be environmental friendly in any development.

“As the current chair of the climate change issues in COP23 with the PM (Voreqe Bainimarama) is very con­cerned with the environment.

“We have to be wary with any new development.”

Permanent Secretary for Lands Malakai Finau said the ministry was aware of the proposed develop­ment.

“Yes we are aware of this proposed development and we had been noti­fied through an application for State foreshore which was made in 2017,” Mr Finau said.

“However the State foreshore is still in application stage.”