Martintar’s Economic Rise

Martintar in Nadi is set to wear the ‘cosmopolitan’ tag in the near future.

This after a new team was appointed to help the jet set town gear towards unprecedented growth for this suburb.

Debra Sadranu, the newly appointed Administrator for Nadi town, said Martintar was and would be classed as the centre for restaurants, bars and nightclubs in Nadi.

“We may look at giving different themes to the busiest areas in Nadi and that is the town, Martintar and Namaka.

“Martintar already has the bars, restaurants and nightlife so they will carry that theme,” Mrs Sadranu said.

She said Martintar was more centrally located of all places in Nadi as it was where one passed to go or come from Nadi International Airport and travelling to town or Denarau.

“There is a huge potential for Martintar considering the expansion of its economy.”

With these plans for the future and the ever increasing developments taking place along the stretch of road beginning from Mount St Mary’s Church to the intersection going to Denarau on the new bypass, Martintar was certainly way ahead of the rest.

Probably the status of Martintar in terms of its economic base could be best indicated through real estate and the now high prices being asked for either purchase or rental.

My Island Home

Real estate personality, Susan Pritchard, managing director of My Island Home, which is based in the heart of Martintar revealed some statistics on present property price range.

“Right now it is very hard to find a home to buy or purchase a commercial business,” Ms Pritchard said.

“The properties in Martintar are highly sought after because it is central, the majority of the land is freehold (only land close to Namaka Public School is Crown Lease) and the major thing is Martintar never floods.

“The place is central to everything from the town to the airport.”

An example, she gave was a building in Martintar with two-three bedrooms flats which could be priced around $1.4 million now.

“Freehold land in Martintar is highly sought after now.

“For a commercial property, which right now is very difficult to find in Martintar, you will not find one for less than $2 million.”

Mrs Pritchard said rent for two or three bedroom flats was nothing lower than $1,200.

“People are finding it very hard to find flats in Martintar and because of the high rental, people are looking elsewhere for cheaper rental flats and homes.”

Apart from real estate, the other attractions include hotels including Nadi Bay Hotel, Mercure, Capricorn, Hexagon, Travelers, Martintar Hotel and Oasis.

Rosie Travel Group headquarters beside Santok Plaza in Martintar, Nadi. Photo: Charles Chambers

“This place never sleeps as it is 24/7.

“You come here any time of the night and you can buy groceries, clothes, drinks, fill your vehicles and find food.

“In 2001 no one could run this service station for more than six months because the economy was low and the criminal record in the area was so the economy for Martintar was not good then.

“Now people want to set up business here and for my place I could sell it for more than $3 million if I wanted to.

“This is the busiest area in Nadi and most populated by tourists.”

Perhaps two of the major drawbacks, according to Media Partners managing director Samuel Shankar, were finding drunkards sleeping outside his premises plus numerous used condoms.

“It is an eyesore and a health problem and drunks lying around shows lack of Police presence,” Mr Shankar said.

“But for the future, I see Martintar continuing to rise as well as contributing to the economy of the area,” he said.

Martintar is certainly the place for the future as Nadi continues to grow in stature.

Feedback: charles.chambers@fijisun.com.fj