Seruiratu wants Seaqaqa, Nabouwalu and Taveuni developed as townships

The coalition Government and future administrations should consider decentralising township development in the Northern Division by fast-tracking township status for Seaqaqa, Nabouwalu and Taveuni, says Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu.

In an exclusive interview, Mr Seruiratu said the three localities had the potential to become new economic centres and should be considered for township development, similar to Navua, which is expected to be declared a township.

“These areas or localities are expanding and capable of being developed and need to be considered for township projects,” he said.

Mr Seruiratu said Seaqaqa, with its concentration of sugarcane farmers, Nabouwalu, as a port of entry and centre for civil servants, and Taveuni, with its tourism potential, were viable options.

He said he understood Government had already initiated developments in Seaqaqa and Nabouwalu but believed further investment should be fast-tracked to help them meet township status.

The Ministry of Local Government is overseeing development in Seaqaqa, including a $1.7 million bus stand and market project, while a $2 million passenger terminal has been completed in Nabouwalu.

Mr Seruiratu said he supported the Government’s phased upgrading of busy non-township localities but believed faster development was needed to unlock economic and employment opportunities.

“There needs to be decentralisation of township services in the North and not only concentrated in Viti Levu,” he said.

Of Fiji’s 13 municipal councils, 11 are based in Viti Levu, with only Labasa and Savusavu townships located on Vanua Levu.

Mr Seruiratu said the proposal aligned with the Government’s “Look North Policy”, with the decentralisation of goods and services potentially reducing travel time and costs for Northern residents.

Labasa Town Council special administrator Samuela Ligairi supported the development of new towns as part of the policy.

Mr Ligairi acknowledged that new townships could affect business flows into Labasa, the largest town in the North, but said they could also reduce traffic congestion and create employment.

He said Labasa and Savusavu could eventually form part of a thriving economic corridor, similar to the Suva-Nausori corridor where smaller satellite townships serve surrounding communities.