Only dumped waste cleared, Tassiriki green space stays: PVCC
February 5, 2025 10:25 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
By Charles Hakwa.
Recent earthworks on the green space at Tassiriki, located on the right side of the road when heading down to the Holiday Inn Resort from the USP roundabout, have triggered concerns from Tassiriki residents, who were worried about the long-time green space being turned into a business zone.
However, Port Vila City Council’s (PVCC) Public Relations Officer (PRO), Pauline Timothy, assured the concerned residents that PVCC will never allow any building on the green space, as that would defeat its purpose.
Timothy explained that the digger is working in the area to clear away waste building materials, which were temporarily dumped there after the 7.3 magnitude earthquake in December.
She said some business owners whose buildings were damaged during the earthquake dumped their damaged concrete and other building waste on the green space with approval from PVCC. Now, the digger is clearing out the waste material and also clearing the grass to keep the green space tidy, as PVCC staff have been doing over the years.
A concerned Tassiriki resident was alarmed when he saw the work being done, fearing that trees at the foot of the hill would be cut down. He recalled the recent earthquake, which caused landslides on the busy road leading up that hill to Independence Park, and feared that if the trees on the green space were removed, a similar landslide could occur in the event of another major earthquake.
Timothy acknowledged the resident’s concern and said PVCC shared similar worries about possible landslides. She assured that PVCC would never cut down those trees, as they help stabilise the soil.
The PRO appealed to the public not to believe rumours about any plans for buildings to be constructed on the green space.
Edward Nalyal, a former Minister of Lands, also welcomed PVCC’s commitment to preserving the green space. He, too, was concerned when he saw the digger working.
Nalyal said the area has always been a green space, and during his time as minister, he ensured it remained that way.
The former Member of Parliament for TAFEA Outer Islands said that at one time, ProMedical had planned to set up an ambulance station there, but he stopped them as he recognised the importance of maintaining it as a green space.
Nalyal said the consent of residents must always be taken into account by PVCC or the national government before carrying out any development in a given area. He urged future governments to uphold this principle.
Meanwhile, Timothy told the Daily Post that PVCC has future plans to turn the Tassiriki green space into a playground.
Other PVCC green spaces include the green space path from Amoremio ice-cream parlour near the University of the South Pacific’s Emalus Campus, extending down to the Korman roundabout, as well as Nambatu Park next to Pikinini Playtime in Nambatu.
