Minister for Local Government, Housing and Environment, Honourable Parveen Kumar Bala officiated as the chief guest during the National Fire Authority (NFA) ground breaking ceremony for the new Korolevu Fire Station today.

Honourable Mr Bala during his address said the new fire station in Korolevu was an important development in Korolevu.

“The Government firmly believes that fire and other emergency management services should be easily accessible to all Fijians and this fire station will enhance the provisions of such services to all Fijians in this area.

The Minister said the region of Korolevu and Coral Coast have witnessed and experienced some of the huge hotel fires like the Korovou Hotel Fire, Naviti Resort Fire, Natavora and the Warwick fire which had the devastating impact to the hotels and likewise the tourism sector in the Coral Coast.

“The Fire Teams from Sigatoka responded to these fires and by the time they arrive the fire destroyed huge parts of the hotel.

“The opening of the new fire station in Korolevu will enable the firefighters to be able to respond more effectively and efficiently to these fires and other emergency management services such as road accident rescue and ambulance.

“The new Korolevu Fire Station is the fundamental to the NFA reform that have taken place in NFA in the expansion of NFA.

“This is the special occasion for people of communities of Korolevu and the surrounding coral coast areas which everyone have been looking forward to for the materialising of this project for a very long time,” Mr Bala said.

“I am extremely proud that the current Bainimarama Government recognised the important of role the Korolevu and the surrounding Coral Coast region plays in the tourism sector and likewise in the economy of the nation and agreed to fund the construction of the Korolevu Fire Station which has been long overdue.

“The Korolevu Fire Station project is expected to cost $1.2 million and after its completion will house two fire and road appliances and an ambulance to service Fijians in these areas for this project to be completed by September 2015 should the good weather conditions prevail,” Mr Bala said.

Mr Bala acknowledge the support of the Korolevu and Coral Coast community, the tourism industry and the villages along the coral coast highway and the business community for being patient and for being fire safety cautious.