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A study has been carried out to determine the feasibility of merging Fiji’s low-cost housing providers the Public Rental Board and the Housing Authority, says Attorney-General and Minister for Public Enterprises Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
“The government desires that one institution be responsible for all housing needs of our people,” said Sayed-Khaiyum, while opening the Housing Authority’s new Customer Relations Centre in Suva yesterday.
“This exercise when completed would duplication of functions, better service to our people and saving of costs,” he said.
The opening of the centre showed the authority was able to quickly respond to opportunities and at the same time adjust to dynamic changes in the housing market, said Sayed-Khaiyum.
He said the authority served about 8000 customers in the Central Division with a total loan portfolio of $90 million. About 85 percent of these customers were employed in Suva and the surrounding areas.
The authority will invest close to $200 million to produce 8000 new lots and houses over the next five years. Construction has already started at its $6.7 million, 50 acre site at Wainibuku.
“The production of these lots will not only alleviate the housing problems in the Suva-Nausori corridor but also enable the construction industry to assist in the country’s economic growth,” said Sayed-Khaiyum.
The proposed development of the 184 acre Tacirua Stage 2 subdivision will also add impetus to this growth, he said.
