Marina Welcomes $5.5M Allocation

Maintenance dredging is long overdue at the Denarau Marina channel, says Port Denarau Marina chief executive officer Cynthia Rasch.

She also said the Government's allocation of funds was welcomed with enthusiasm.

In the last parliament session, the Minister of Finance Biman Prasad confirmed dredging works worth $5.5 million was allocated to assist with the mitigation of flooding and strengthening infrastructure at Denarau, were of great importance as it contributed to the tourism economy.

The Denarau Marina channel was last dredged in 2012 and has since been a topic of discussion with the Ministry of Tourism and Waterways.

"Port Denarau Marina fully supports this development, as it aligns with our ongoing efforts to ensure the marina remains a safe and accessible hub for vessels, which is critical for maintaining the strength of tourism a key pillar of the Fijian economy," said Ms Rasch.

Ms Rasch said Port Denarau Marina was awaiting final approval of its dredging license within the marina basin, which is with the Solicitor General's office.

"Looking ahead, we are constantly exploring ways to enhance our facilities. Once our dredging license is approved, we will issue a press release outlining our plans for the marina," she said.

The marina, with its shareholders, is set to remain committed to fostering economic growth while safeguarding the environment and serving the community.

However, Minister for Rural & Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Sakiasi Ditoka, said the project was still being under consideration.

"The technical people are still doing the studies on where exactly that's going to happen, but we are just thankful that the funds have been allocated and that the work is going to be done," he said.

He said it was important that the tourism sector gets the support that the government could offer when requested.

"For the marina, it's going to assist the tourism side of things as everything is interrelated.

There are some classes of vessels that weren't able to come right close to where they're supposed to be berthed.

Through the dredging, they now allow those classes of vessels to be able to get what they paid for."

He said the dredging would provide some relief and assist other plans in place to help alleviate flooding.

"It has been a long time coming. We've had issues with flooding in the Nadi area, especially in places like Yavusania Village, outside Nadi town has not been spared by soil erosion," he said.

"They've become resilient just because of the experiences that they've had, because of the continuous floods that they've been experiencing all through the years. There are other plans in place, and these will be done in conjunction with the river dredging."

Mr Ditoka confirmed that the provision to dredge the Nadi Riverbank adjacent to Malolo, which is within the town boundary.

"What I've been told is they're being very careful a bout the dredging because, in some areas in Fiji where the dredging has been happening, it's causing salt water to move inland. They are studying it very carefully to see how much it is needed to dredge," he said.

"We are going to be very careful to ensure that it helps instead of ca using more problems. That's a possibility if we are not careful of what we do now."

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