Director of Land and Water Resource Management, Lakshman Mudaliar said the views and recommendations from the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study will be considered during the operational phase of the dredging works.
Mudaliar made these comments while responding to the comments by Fellow and Manager of Institute of Applied Science Environment Unit Bale Tamani in the Fiji Times on Saturday (26/06) that there is a need to commence the dredging works quickly as an area identified for use as disposal area for dredged materials is also used by migratory birds.
“The EIA of the Rewa River Dredging works undertaken by USP has not identified any conservation birds of significance, however, an area on the coast of Laucala Island that has been identified for dredge material disposal is known roosting area for migratory birds in the area,” said Mudaliar.
Mudaliar added that waders are using this site not for any special habitat attribute other than because it is a little disturbed coast line with good views of anything which may approach along the coast.
“There may be temporary loss of habitat following dredge disposal which will result in the waders having to leave the area during the operation but there are other potential roosting sites, including recently dredge deposits up streams which will provide a similar or little-disturbed and open site with good all round views,” said Mudaliar.
“The Agriculture Department has signed a contract with the China Railway First Group (Fiji) Company for the dredging of Rewa River,” he said.
The dredging works are to commence at the end of July with the contract period of 270 days from the day of commencement of dredging works and the whole dredging works is expected to complete in 2011,” explained Mudaliar.
Mudaliar added that according to the river dredging plan, works will commence from the river mouth so that the dredging operation is undertaken quickly to minimize the disturbance to the roost site for these migratory birds.