A detailed Environmental Impact Assessment will be carried out before a decision is made on whether IMEL can commence repair works on its floating dry dock near the public recreational area at the Lami foreshore.
Lami’s Special Administrator Jasper Singh called a meeting yesterday afternoon to hear the views of the residents of Lami on IMEL’s proposed dry dock repair works in the area.
Singh said people were not consulted before these works and he was shocked to see that preparatory works had started a few days ago.
Singh added that at this stage he is unaware of any Environment Assessment Report done by the IMEL and the Department of Environment may assist IMEL in identifying a new site.
Fijivillage has already asked the question on whether alternative industrial sites have been considered for these works to avoid pollution and damage to the Lami foreshore area.
Jasper Singh confirms that the Lami Town Council will issue a stop work notice to IMEL today.
Questions have been raised on how the Lami foreshore area was about to be used for IMEL’s floating dry dock repair works without any public consultations or an Environmental Impact Assessment.
We had noticed that the dry dock set up had already begun on Monday.
Environment Department officials refused to speak to Fijivillage yesterday.
We are trying to find out why these works almost started without an Environmental Impact Assessment.
Suva Harbour Foundation Secretary, Robert Gillett has written to the Acting Director of Environment, Eleni Tokaduadua urging the Environment Department to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment considering the large impact that the beaching of the dry dock is expected to have.
The Environment Management Act clearly states that an approving authority must examine every development proposal received by it and determine whether the activity or undertaking in the proposal is likely to cause significant environmental or resource management impact.
The Act also states that the preservation of the coastal environment, margins of wetlands, lakes and rivers; the protection of outstanding natural landscapes and natural features and the protection of human life and health must be considered.
IMEL General Manager, Roger Powell said this is an out of water project whereby the floating dry dock will be raised out of the water on the Lami foreshore.
He said the works include surface preparation, conduct inspections, and do the re-painting of the below water sections of the dry dock.
When asked on whether any Environmental Impact Assessment was conducted, Powell said an Environmental Management Plan was done and approved with conditions.
Fijivillage has obtained a letter from Fiji Ports Corporation to IMEL which clearly states that an environment impact assessment report has to be carried out.
Fiji Ports also requested urgent attention and assistance in the removal of the two vessels, Konpira and Tug Vitu which are currently sunk under the current position of the IMEL floating dry dock.
When we questioned Powell on these two sunken vessels, he said that IMEL is working on this with Fiji Ports Corporation.
Story by: Vijay Narayan & Prasheel Chandra
