AUSTRALIAN-based company International Wise Development has set up office in Suva for the construction of quality, low cost housing.
Early this month, the company launched the groundbreaking ceremony for three houses along Lami Heights.
Company chief executive officer Grant Cullen said a total of 10 houses had been earmarked for construction in Lami.
The homes cost as low as $25,000 and are set to Australian and New Zealand approved building standards.
"We've got 40 plans with the local councils for Suva, Nasinu, Waila, Nausori and Nadi," he said.
"Apart from that we've had over 4000 applications but the biggest problem is acquiring land — but there are a number of people who do own land so they are the ones whose applications we've submitted to local councils."
Though one of the requirements of having the raised homes with a sleek interior and exterior finish is to own a piece of land, Mr Cullen has assured the homes are designed to withstand earthquakes, flooding because of the raised building and category 4 cyclone or hurricane. "We specifically go out to each site and conduct soil testing and reporting, and typically engineer the house structure to suit that block of land," he said.
"We redesigned engineering for Fiji's soil types and conditions taking into account the earthquake factor.
"We developed a system which was readily used all over Australia called screw piling."
He said the screw piles they designed are drilled into the earth and locked into the soft ground, allowing it to form a solid foundation for the house structure.