Page 10 - IB MAR 2017

Cover Story ‘ ’
Township backs mining job opportunities

n From PAGE 9
Similar questions were sent to the of-
fice of the Fiji Director of Environment,
Sandeep Singh, on the same day we sent
our questions to Corerega Environment
Consultancy. We sent her four questions
relating to the mining of Sigatoka River.
“1. According to point 6.1.2.1 in the EIA
Report, the consultants had recommended
a second EIA to be done. Would you be
able to tell me whether this recommenda-
tion was taken up?
“2. On section 6.2.2.1.1, I also note an-
other recommendation by the consultants
that dredging of the Sigatoka River should
be confined only to the months of May to
October. Is there a reason why this par- An excavator digs for sand at the Sigatoka River mouth. Photo: Samisoni Pareti
ticular recommendation was not accepted?
“3. I would appreciate your direction Mining and royalties
in identifying whether point 2 i of the
TOR of the EIA was fulfilled by the con- THE need to engage with landown- the dredged spoils to be used as fill
sultants, that an “ecological and social ers was raised in the EIA Report of for reclamation of land to be used
baseline environments” should have the proposed mining of Sigatoka for extension of village boundaries
been established. My reading of the EIA River. could prompt the land owners to
Report seems to suggest that no baseline “The developer is to acquire the give their land free for use as dump
was produced. approval of the (land) owning unit sites and roads to dump sites.
“4. Finally, the risk of “serious poi- for the waiving of the customary “The natural resources within
soning” was raised in section 5.1.1.8, fishing rights wherever applicable the development site provide a rich
where unspecified “contaminants” were and a suitable and appropriate resource.
mentioned by the EIA consultants. Is the amount of money is to be paid out Over 80 per cent of the area
Department aware of what these “con- to them if deemed necessary for the within the proposed mining zone
taminants” are and what are the levels of partial or total loss of their fishing is classified as being part of the
risks in serious poisoning?” area to the project,” states section iQoliqoli or customary fishing
When the magazine followed up on our 6.5.4 of the Report. ground which extends offshore into
questions with the Environment Director’s Landowners were also mentioned the bay region and as such, it plays
office, we were advised that the questions in the use of their land for the an important role in the subsistence
have been sitting in the inbox of the Di- mine’s dump sites. and artisanal fishery of the nearby
rector’s official emails. We were told that “Further incentive could be local communities.
the questions should have been directed discussed through a forum of some “The river mouth and sand bank
first to the Department’s media liason of- sort if the developer and landown- deposit areas are a daily favourite
ficer who would then seek the approval of ers agree to form one and use it as fishing grounds for many Indo-Fi-
the Environment minister first before the a means of addressing issues of im- jians living at Kulukulu settlement
director could respond to our questions. portance to them. Maybe allowing using fishing poles and nets.”
Some residents of the town of Sigatoka
which sits on the banks of the Sigatoka
River have expressed concern about the It said it surveyed 117 people, of whom munity. The positive contributing factors
interest by Dome to mine the river. They 75 were male and 42 were females. as mentioned by respondents include em-
specifically worry about its impact on “Support for the dredging of the Siga- ployment opportunity, improve on existing
river life as well as to the coastline given toka River was overwhelming during the financial status and increase fish yield and
the heavy dependency of the region in survey,” said the EIA Report. catch since dredging will be carried out.”
tourism. “Ninety-five (96%) per cent of the re- “Impact of dredging to the fisheries re-
Sigatoka Town sits right in the middle spondents support the development. The sources will be more on the positive side,”
of Fiji’s Coral Coast, a mecca of the coun- main concern is the flooding which has the EIA Report went on to observe. “The
try’s tourism industry hosting several five been a frequent occurrence during the increase in volume of water means more
star resorts including the Australian PGA heavy rain period. The other 4 per cent fishes can be contained. There are other
sanctioned golf course at Natadola. need further information on the mining causes of depletion to fish stocks that are
The Corerega’s EIA Report spoke glow- development process to make an informed on-going that need to be addressed than
ingly of the overwhelming support of decision on supporting the development.” any effects of dredging to fishery resources
residents and villages that live by the river “All respondents agreed that the mining of the Sigatoka River.”
for the proposed Dome mining. project will be of great benefit to the com- r spareti@islandsbusiness.com

10 Islands Business, March 2017