$2m Upgrade Earmarked for Six Informal Settlements
“Funding assistance of $1 million has been approved for the fiscal year 2023-2024 and an additional $1m in the 2024-2025 budget.
Friday 25 October 2024 | 13:16
Fiji National University Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Jimaima Lako, Minister for Housing and Local Government Maciu Nalumisa and RISE co-director Diego Ramirez-Lovering (Front row, with garland) with the RISE Symposium participants at the Fiji National University Nasinu campus on October 23, 2024. Photo: Ronald Kumar
Six informal settlements nationwide have been earmarked for an upgrade under the Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE) initiative.
These six upgrades include new rock-lined drainage works, Footpaths and boardwalks, and twelve wetpods across six settlements.
Informal settlements
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The six informal settlements are Komave, Nauluvatu, Matata, Vunibua, Wailea and Muanivatu.
Minister for Housing and Local Government Maciu Nalumisa said this during the launch of the RISE project at the Fiji National University on Wednesday.
“Spot backfilling for waterlogged areas, installation of 74 pressure tanks across six sites, six communal sewer tanks, construction of three treatment wetlands at Komave, Nauluvatu, and Vunibua,” Mr Nalumisa said.
“Demonstration site at Tamavua-i-wai featuring multiple pressure tanks and treatment wetlands.”
Through these activities, the RISE programme aims to eliminate the risk of exposure to contamination or reduce the community’s risk to exposure to contamination by at least 80 per cent.
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Leaving no one behind
Mr Nalumisa acknowledged the theme “Leaving no one behind: Partnership for improving community Health through safely managed sanitation for all,” emphasising that the Coalition Government, through the Ministry of Housing, remains committed to supporting RISE Fiji.
This ensures that all Fijians have access to safe, affordable housing, basic services, and the revitalisation of informal settlements.
“Funding assistance of $1 million has been approved for the fiscal year 2023-2024 and an additional $1m in the 2024-2025 budget.
“The ministry is also undertaking an institutional reform via the review of the 2011 National Housing Policy with the aim of addressing the complexities of rapid urban growth and facilitate the harmonising of land development aspects through enhanced forward planning,” he said.
This project is supported and implemented by Monash University, both the Ministry of Housing and NZMFAT provide governance and oversight in these activities.
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