With climate change issues considered, a village in Cakaudrove has built its new $42,000 hall on a hill, far from the seaside.
Although the village sits about 50m from the seaside surrounded by mangroves, elders of Vunikura Village in Buca area have decided to construct the hall on a hill as part of a long-term plan and keep away rising seawater.
Village elder Silivitere Vuniyalo said it was important for villages by the coastal area to plan long-term, as long as 30 to 50 years ahead, even longer.
“This hall could have been built in the village area but we thought of putting it on a hill because of future impacts that our children and grandchildren will face such as climate change,” he said.
“But this project has become successful because of the assistance given to us by Savusavu Rotary Club that donated most of the funding and we are very grateful.
“The club gave two-thirds of the funding while we gave one-third and the village contribution came from the tourist program we have had over the years.”
Mr Vuniyalo said the program over the past years included the visitation from tourists to the village where they were entertained and informed of the iTaukei culture and lifestyle.
The hall, he added, would include restrooms, bathrooms and veranda to cater for village functions.
“We have always had functions in marquees but during bad weather this wasn’t possible so we needed to build this hall for the villagers,” Mr Vuniyalo said.
“Now we will not worry about having functions during wet weather because the hall is the prefect location.”
