NADI Town will not be moved despite the centre being prone to flooding, according to Nadi Town Council special administrator Aisea Tuidraki.
Instead, businesses have begun adaptation plans and are finding innovative ways to ensure swift recovery in the event of floods in the future.
"We have received a number of applications from current businesses to allow for amendments for access-ways to upper floors which would let workers and management move stock or people to upper reaches in the event of floods," said Mr Tuidraki.
"Perhaps one of the most significant signs that confidence has improved has been the fact that we have received 200 applications for new businesses at the Nadi Town Council."
Mr Tuidraki said Nadi, like most flood-prone centres in the world, would adapt and continue to operate as a municipality.
"Instead of moving, which is a costly affair, businesses have mapped out strategies and adapted furnishings and stock operations so that in the event of floods, the effects are minimised and trading can continue once clean-up operations have been completed," he said.
By working closely with the Fiji Meteorological Service and the Commissioner Western's Office, Mr Tuidraki said strategies had already been mapped out.
He said these strategies were to ensure that businesses and residents would have adequate warning if and when the Nadi River reached a critical level.
"We have rainfall gauges established and river level gauges that monitor waterways.
"Once these indicate that levels are critical, we have three sirens set-up that will deliver messages in all three languages," he said.