Infrastructure Transformation in the North 

Elevating Environmental Standards to Safeguard Fiji’s Tourism Value: 🌿 Landfills vs. Dumps 

The true foundation of a thriving, world-class tourism industry lies not just in pristine reef systems, lush rainforests, and world-renowned hospitality, but in how meticulously we safeguard our natural assets.

Sustainable growth requires robust public infrastructure capable of preserving the very environment that draws visitors from around the globe. However, regional growth introduces real structural pressures on environmental health, particularly regarding how waste is managed. Traditional rubbish disposal methods are increasingly unsuited to meet the needs of growing municipalities and modern tourism standards.  

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Protecting the “Friendly North” starts with building the right infrastructure to keep our environment pristine! 🌿🗑️ 

The Na Vualiku Project’s Solid Waste Management initiative is designed to modernize the infrastructure needed to transition the Northern Division toward an engineered, sustainable waste system. 

Following initial, extensive stakeholder consultations and site visits, the Project is advancing strategic technical assessments and practical options tailored for Labasa, Savusavu, Taveuni, and surrounding areas. This groundswell of preparatory planning ensures that our upcoming interventions directly serve the needs of local towns and traditional custodians alike. 

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Understanding the Infrastructure Shift: Dumps vs. Engineered Landfills 

A rubbish dump and a landfill may sound similar, but they are completely different in how they protect people, land, water, and our shared environment: 

• The Traditional Rubbish Dump: Typically an open or poorly controlled site where waste is placed with limited planning, engineering, or protective barriers. These unmanaged sites create foul odors, attract disease-carrying pests, release smoke if burned, and critically allow toxic, polluted liquid to seep into soil, rivers, groundwater, and pristine coastal ecosystems. 

• The Engineered Landfill: A highly planned, modern facility engineered to control exactly where waste goes, how it is compacted, and how it is covered. Proper landfills utilize sophisticated containment designs to capture contaminated liquid and runoff, implement waste sorting and drainage systems, ensure strict access control, and utilize long-term site monitoring to keep nearby communities and natural ecosystems safe. 

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Turning Plans Into Action: The Timeline 

Moving from administrative planning to active delivery, our project timelines are geared toward making an immediate, practical impact: 

• July 2026 Milestone: The Project is on track to officially identify immediate, early improvements that can be executed directly at current disposal facilities. 

• November 2026 Mobilization: Ground works are expected to commence on-site for these early improvements, establishing an operational bridge while technical planning continues on the long-term, engineered regional waste management infrastructure options. 

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The Broader Impact: Securing the Future of Northern Tourism 

Sustainability cannot be bought or imported; it is forged by protecting the health of our communities, keeping our towns clean, and safeguarding the natural assets of Vanua Levu and Taveuni. 

Through the #NaVualikuProject work is underway to plan a safer, cleaner solid waste management system across Labasa, Savusavu, and Taveuni. Our goals go far beyond simply finding more space for trash; together with stakeholders, we are planning a sustainable infrastructure that mitigates environmental risks and protects our town ecosystems. 

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Through the Na Vualiku Project, work is underway to support better solid waste management planning for the Northern Division.

This includes technical assessments, site visits, stakeholder discussions, and analysis of practical options for Labasa, Savusavu, Taveuni, and surrounding areas.

The goal is not simply to find more space for waste. It is to plan a safer, cleaner, and more sustainable system that reduces environmental risks, protects communities, and supports the long-term growth of tourism and local development across Vanua Levu and Taveuni.

Better waste management is essential for healthier communities, cleaner towns, protected natural assets, and a stronger tourism future. Read more in our latest newsletter: https://navualiku.com/newsletters/

New technology to support safer, more reliable air services for Labasa passengers, businesses and visitors 

Labasa Airport is expected to become the first airport in the Pacific to host a remote tower Aerodrome Flight Information Service, known as AFIS, in a move aimed at strengthening air services for Vanua Levu. 

The planned system will use cameras and other equipment at Labasa Airport to transmit real-time flight information to the Nadi Operations Centre, supporting safer, more reliable and better-coordinated services for aircraft operating to and from Labasa. 

For passengers, residents and businesses, the investment means Labasa Airport is being equipped with modern technology to support the air services that connect Vanua Levu with the rest of Fiji. 

The initiative is being delivered through the Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu, locally known as the Na Vualiku Project. The Program is a flagship Government of Fiji initiative financed by the World Bank and led by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation in collaboration with implementing partners, including Fiji Airports and the Fiji Roads Authority. 

Under a contract awarded by Fiji Airports, Adacel Technologies Limited will deploy its REVAL remote tower system for Labasa Airport. The system will include a Remote Tower Module at Labasa Airport and a Remote Tower Centre at the Nadi Operations Centre, strengthening how flight information is captured, monitored and shared. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Viliame Gavoka, said the investment reflects the Government’s commitment to strengthening the foundations for sustainable tourism and regional development in Vanua Levu. 

“For residents and passengers, this means the airport is being equipped with modern technology to support safer, more reliable and better-coordinated aviation services for the North,” he said. 

“The planned remote tower AFIS system for Labasa Airport is part of a wider effort to modernise tourism-enabling infrastructure and essential services, while supporting communities, businesses and visitors who rely on safe and dependable transport links,” he added.  

“Aviation connectivity is critical for Vanua Levu’s future. Through the Na Vualiku Project, the Government is investing in practical, long-term improvements that strengthen access, safety, reliability and confidence in the North as a sustainable tourism destination,” Hon. Gavoka said. 

Labasa Airport is a key gateway for Vanua Levu, supporting residents, visitors, businesses, government services and essential service providers. The planned remote tower AFIS system is expected to improve aviation services and will support the tourism sector by helping strengthen regional connectivity and operational resilience. 

Fiji Airports Chief Executive Officer, Mesake Seavula Nawari, said the project is an important step forward in strengthening aviation services for Vanua Levu and supporting Fiji’s broader economic development. 

He said that the remote tower’s architecture will enable real-time operational visibility and monitoring from a centralized facility in Nadi, supporting safe and efficient remote service delivery in Labasa. 

“By modernising aerodrome service delivery at Labasa through advanced technology, we are enhancing regional connectivity, supporting tourism growth and helping ensure safe, reliable air transport for our communities and visitors,” he explained. 

The remote tower AFIS system is one of several aviation-related investments being supported under the Na Vualiku Project to strengthen connectivity and enable sustainable tourism development in Vanua Levu and Taveuni. 

The Na Vualiku Project supports coordinated investments in tourism-enabling infrastructure, essential public services, regional connectivity, enterprise development, climate resilience, environmental and social planning, and community-based tourism.  

-ENDS- 

During severe weather events, demand for medical care can rise at the very moment power systems, roads, supply chains, and emergency services are under the greatest pressure. Fiji has already seen how devastating the consequences can be when severe weather, health emergencies, and power disruptions collide. 

Reliable Power for Essential Services 

Reliable power is not just about keeping the lights on. In a hospital, reliable electricity can determine whether care continues safely and without interruption.  

In a hospital, electricity helps keep essential care running, including nebulizers and oxygen machines that support patients with breathing difficulties, defibrillators that save lives during a cardiac arrest, the beeping monitors that help health workers track a patient’s condition, vaccine fridges, and medical testing equipment. It also supports communication systems used to coordinate emergency response, and patient care.  

Solar power does not only help reduce electricity costs over time. It also strengthens energy resilience for such essential services. And, such reliability can make the difference between life and death. 

The Fiji Tourism Development Program in Vanua Levu (Na Vualiku Project) is undertaking a feasibility study to assess how solar power can help reduce electricity costs, increase the use of clean energy, and support better public services in Labasa and Savusavu. 

Savusavu Hospital has been included as one of the sites under assessment. 

Image: Savusavu Hospital

Assessing Solar Power at Savusavu Hospital 

This is particularly important for a key sub-divisional health facility that forms part of the wider public healthcare network in the Northern Division. In this context, reliable electricity is not only important for one facility. It supports continuity across a wider system of care. 

Savusavu Hospital already relies on dedicated backup power arrangements during outages. The feasibility study is looking at whether solar PV can complement existing systems and provide additional resilience, while also considering the hospital’s building structures, electrical systems, future power needs, safety requirements, and long-term maintenance arrangements. 

Why Rooftop Solar Is Being Considered 

The current assessment is focused on rooftop solar because available land within the hospital site is limited and may be needed for future health service needs. Rooftop installation also offers a practical, lower-impact option for a working hospital environment. 

The feasibility study is reviewing roof areas that are more suitable for assessment, including the central building with a newer roof and the main building above the Emergency Department, where roof upgrading is already underway.  

Image: Google image of the Savusavu Hospital

Supporting Future Health Needs 

The study will also consider practical needs such as vaccine refrigeration, emergency services, and the hospital’s future energy demand as services and equipment expand. If solar PV is installed, hospital electricians and relevant technical staff would be upskilled to support system monitoring and maintenance. 

If the site meets the required technical, structural, financial, environmental, and social criteria, the next phase would move into detailed design, supply, and installation. 

A Wider Shift Toward Resilient Energy 

For patients sitting in a waiting room, for health workers responding to urgent needs, and for families depending on care during difficult moments, energy resilience is not an abstract issue. It is part of what allows a hospital to function when people need it most. 

Fiji’s health sector is already moving toward cleaner and more resilient energy solutions, particularly for rural and maritime facilities.

This is part of the country’s broader commitment to increase renewable energy use, reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, and strengthen climate resilience across essential public services. Fiji’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Implementation Roadmap 2017–2030 targets close to 100 percent renewable energy power generation by 2030.

Recent solar installations at facilities such as Lomaloma Sub-Divisional Hospital in Vanuabalavu show how solar power can support 24/7 electricity, oxygen concentrators, refrigeration, and emergency care. 

The assessment at Savusavu Hospital builds on this wider national shift by examining whether rooftop solar PV can safely and practically strengthen energy resilience at one of the Northern Division’s key sub-divisional health facilities. 

Through this work, the Na Vualiku Project is supporting practical steps toward cleaner energy, lower operating costs, and more resilient public infrastructure and essential services in Vanua Levu. 

Future Planning: New Airport Feasibility Study

An international aviation consultancy, AirBiz, specialising in airport planning and development, is currently undertaking a feasibility study to assess future aviation needs in Vanua Levu.

This includes a feasibility study for a potential new airport in Vanua Levu, an air connectivity study for Taveuni Island, and the development of master plans for Labasa and Matei airports.

Following its kickoff meeting in January 2026 and submission of the Draft Inception Report in February, the team is progressing technical work, including field visits to Matei and Labasa airports, as well as assessments of four potential sites for a possible new airport in Vanua Levu.

Engagement is ongoing with government agencies, local councils, landowning units of potential sites, and industry stakeholders across the Northern Division to ensure the study reflects operational requirements, growth projections, and local context.

In parallel, a separate team is consulting stakeholders in Suva and Nadi, along with Fiji Airports management and technical teams, to inform the analysis.

This work is part of a feasibility assessment only. Once completed, the report will be presented to Cabinet with options and recommendations.

☀️Energy costs are on everyone’s mind nowadays given the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East and current global energy crisis . While the #NaVualikuProject’s feasibility study on rooftop solar across municipal buildings in Labasa and Savusavu was already underway, it is now more relevant than ever.

🤝 Over two days of consultations in Labasa and Savusavu, this work moved from technical analysis to real conversations. Consultants from Elemental Group Ltd met with market vendors, tenants of municipal buildings, and Town Councils, ensuring the feasibility study is shaped not just by data, but by how these spaces are used by ordinary people every day.

👥 With our stakeholders, market vendors and tenants, the discussions quickly turned practical. In Labasa, conversations focused on space, how equipment might fit within already busy market areas, and what that means for daily operations. Vendors also explored what solar energy could enable, from powering sewing machines in the handicraft market to supporting refrigeration and lighting during outages. At the same time, there was a clear understanding that benefits would be shared, improving services across the facility rather than providing individual access.

👥 In Savusavu, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Vendors recognised the value of reducing energy costs for the Town Council and what that could mean for the wider community. There was strong interest and enthusiasm, particularly in knowing that the infrastructure would be financed through the Project, removing the need for fundraising while still delivering tangible improvements. Conversations also touched on resilience, and the importance of planning infrastructure that can support communities during disruptions and disasters.

🏛️ Alongside these discussions, Town Councils, as eventual asset owners, focused on the longer-term picture. How will these systems be managed? What will operations and maintenance require? And, most importantly, how can savings be redirected to improve services? In Labasa, high energy costs, particularly from floodlighting at Subrail Park, stood out as a clear opportunity where solar could make a difference. The need to align with other infrastructure projects and plan for growing demand also came through strongly.

⚙️ At its core, the feasibility study is testing what is possible. It is assessing selected municipal sites across Labasa and Savusavu, examining technical suitability, energy demand, system design, and long-term financial viability. The aim is simple: to ensure that any future investment is practical, sustainable, and delivers real value.

🌱 If deemed suitable, rooftop solar systems could be installed from late 2026. But the outcome is bigger than infrastructure. It is about turning savings into services, strengthening public facilities, and ensuring municipal buildings work harder for the communities they serve.

The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has welcomed the completion of the runway strengthening works at Labasa Airport, describing the development as an important step in the Government of Fiji’s continued efforts to improve air transport connectivity and support economic development in Vanua Levu. 

The works, implemented by Fiji Airports, were undertaken with financing under the World Bank-financed Na Vualiku Project, for which the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation serves as the lead implementing agency through the Central Project Management Unit. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Honourable Viliame Gavoka, commended Fiji Airports for the successful and timely completion of the works. 

“I commend Fiji Airports for ensuring the timely completion of the runway strengthening works at Labasa Airport. This is an important achievement that will contribute to safer, more reliable and more efficient air services for the people and businesses of the Northern Division,” said Honourable Gavoka. 

He said the completion of the works also reflects the Government of Fiji’s broader commitment to the development of Vanua Levu and to strengthening the infrastructure needed to support connectivity, tourism, trade and essential services. 

“The Government of Fiji remains firmly committed to improving connectivity to Vanua Levu as part of our wider efforts to promote balanced national development and unlock greater economic opportunity in the North. Investments of this nature are critical to supporting communities, facilitating movement, and creating the conditions for sustainable growth,” Honourable Gavoka said. 

The Minister further noted that the runway improvement forms part of the wider Na Vualiku Project, through which the Government has worked with the World Bank to mobilise financing for strategic investments in infrastructure and services in Vanua Levu. 

“The Na Vualiku Project reflects the Coalition Government’s commitment to securing and advancing major development financing for Vanua Levu. Through this programme, we are pursuing practical investments that can strengthen infrastructure, improve access, and support long term tourism and economic development. The completion of the Labasa runway strengthening works is a tangible example of that commitment being translated into results,” he said. 

The Ministry also acknowledged the collaborative efforts of Fiji Airports, project partners, contractors, landowners and local stakeholders who contributed to the successful completion of the works. 

As lead agency for the Na Vualiku Project, the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation will continue to work closely with Fiji Airports and other implementing agencies to advance priority investments that support sustainable development in Vanua Levu. 

– ENDS – 

Photos:

An aerial view of the Labasa Airport runway following the completion of the strengthening
works this week.

This morning,Fiji Airports welcomed Northern Air’s first arriving passengers to Labasa Airport as Waiqele officially reopened after six weeks.

The Fiji Airways crew made it extra special by welcoming passengers with beautiful necklaces, refreshments, and warm island smiles.

✈️ Our Environment and Social Officers undertook an Environmental and Social (E&S) site inspection at #LabasaAirport to review ongoing resilience works and ensure compliance with project safeguard requirements.

As part of this engagement, the team also delivered training on Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH) prevention and the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) to staff from Flame Tree, BECA, and Fiji Airports.

These sessions reinforced clear reporting pathways, respectful workplace standards, and accountability across all contractors and partners operating on site.

Why this matters: strong safeguards and awareness on the ground help ensure infrastructure upgrades are delivered responsibly, with the safety, dignity, and rights of workers and communities protected throughout implementation.

#NaVualiku #LabasaAirport #Safeguards #SEAH #GRM #ResponsibleDevelopment

Limited air connectivity has long constrained tourism growth and economic opportunities across Fiji’s Northern Division.

The #NaVualikuProject is helping address this challenge through coordinated investments to strengthen aviation infrastructure and improve access to the North.

At Labasa Airport, critical runway strengthening works are underway from 16 February to 27 March 2026. The upgrade will improve safety and increase the runway’s load-bearing capacity, allowing it to accommodate ATR 72 aircraft once completed. Fiji Airports is working closely with airline partners and transport providers to ensure alternative travel options remain available during the temporary closure.

Further improvements are also being designed for Labasa and Savusavu airports, including a new terminal building for Savusavu Airport. In parallel, installation of a Remote Tower Aerodrome Flight Information System (AFIS) at Labasa Airport will begin early this year, enabling modern remote monitoring and management of air traffic to enhance aviation safety.

Assessments for a potential new domestic airport for Vanua Levu are also expected to begin soon.

Together, these investments are strengthening safety, expanding connectivity, and supporting the long-term growth of tourism and local economic opportunities in the Northern Division.

During their visit to Vanua Levu, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hon. Viliame Gavoka, together with Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank Vice President for the East Asia and Pacific Region, Gallina A. Vincelette, World Bank Vice President for Operations Policy and Country Services, and Sarvesh Suri, IFC Regional Vice President for Asia and the Pacific, were updated by our implementing partner, Fiji Airports on progress toward these critical aviation investments.

NaVualiku #VanuaLevu #Aviation #TourismDevelopment