'Biggies’ on the backburner

MOST of Fiji’s multi-million dollar developments are simmering on the backburner, waiting for finance which is scarce in the current international recession.

Government approval has been received for the $4OO million development for Vulani Island, north of Nadi, but developers Cobwebb and Company of Australia still are organising finance, They plan four hotels, two marinas, a 27-hole golf course, a commercial centre and condominiums built over nine years.

Stage one would take four years and cover infrastructure, two hotels, the golf course and commercial centre.

T i . , rxT r i j V f NaSOS ° r ’T' o V ulan , are st.ll organising finance for the six hotels, two golf courses and commercial centre. Investors include several locals and a United States partner, with finance being sought offshore. Preliminary feasibility work has

been positive but no other progress has been made. There is talk of linking Vulani and Nasoso, and a monorail joining the islands to the airport, The Saweni Resort development out side Lautoka has been just a half a fence since 1987 even the signboard has fallen down but an announcement is expected soon about the start of the three luxury hotels of 1030 rooms, 376 villas an d townhouses, marina, oceanarium, g°lf course and commercial complex, Fiji Resorts plans to start building a 300-room international class Shangri-La hotel an d golf course at Natadola, on the south-west coast, as soon as negotiations with toe Government are completed.

The P r °J ect squires extensive public infrastructure, and release of the Depart ment of Town and Country Planning’s development plan for the Natadola area, which is likely to recommend a coastal park with environmentally-sensitive facilities. □

Children at Natadola: a coastal park is likely to precede development