THE Urban Growth Management Plan (UG-MAP) provides an opportunity for stakeholders to ensure growth in urban Vanua Levu follows a strategic direction, says Commissioner Northern Lieutenant Colonel Ilai Moceica.
Lt-Col Moceica said the UG-MAP was one of the key areas that would guide government agencies and organisations in improving effectiveness of planning and management of urban growth in the northern corridor.
As people continue to shift to towns and cities and as the urban area grows, the challenge is containment and management of the urban centres for its sustainability, he said.
How we plan, build and manage our urban and regional areas now will determine the outcome of our efforts to achieve more sustainable and harmonious development tomorrow not to mention saving costs.