Housing materials accessible now on Kadavu Island
Villagers on the island of Kadavu now have easy access to housing materials which is sourced from their own pine resources.
This has been made possible through trainings and workshops that have taught youths how to operate chainsaws and portable machines for the harvesting of pine trees.
According to divisional forestry officer (Central and Eastern) Apisai Rinamalo, two villages on the island have been utilising their pine resources for their housing structure as well as posts.
“So far, we have around 11 houses that is currently being built in Namuana and Namara villages and this is encouraging as they do not have to travel to the mainland to purchase their housing materials,” Mr Rinamalo said.
For Namara Village alone, the village committee has set up a five year development plan that should see the construction of 50 houses.
Assistant Village headman for Namara, Ligio Kacivi says that the village is looking at building homes first for their villagers and then selling the rest of their pine resources so that nearby villages will also benefit.
“The cost of purchasing housing materials from the mainland is really expensive as well as the freight for transporting them to our village. With this initiative by Government through the Ministry of Forests, we are able to save a lot of money as well as utilise our resources,” Mr Kacivi said. Mr Kacivi also thanked forestry officials who have spent weeks training their youths on chainsaw and portable sawmill operations.
“Through training that they have received, the youths have been able to put into practice everything that they have learnt from the harvesting of pine trees to cutting of timber for housing structures.”
Mr Kacivi added that another bonus for their village operations is the use of the portable treatment plant which ensures that all timber harvested is treated before it is used. The Ministry of Forests is encouraging villages on the island to make use of the treatment plant and have their timber fully treated before building their houses.
The portable treatment plant is situated in Vunisea and is supervised by forestry officers.