WWII find to be tourist attraction

A WORLD War II bunker discovered on Malolo Lailai Island in the Mamanuca will be turned into a tourist attraction.

Plantation Island Resort general manager Alex Wilson said inspections had been carried out at the site by historians and administrators of the Momi Bay war memorial site.

“I came across the site through a staff who told me about the lookout point,” he said.

“I didn’t think much of it, but when I went up to the hilltop myself I couldn’t believe that we had something very special right at our doorstep.

“So we invited some experts from Momi Bay and Craig Powell who was doing exceptional work at Momi and the Sigatoka Sand Dunes.

“When they came to see it for themselves, they agreed that it was a site that should be preserved.”

He said the site was currently used by the resort’s yoga instructors twice a week.

“It’s a very special place that has a great 360 degree view of the whole island.

“I can see why they picked that particular spot to be a lookout point.”

Mr Wilson added the hilltop needed to be worked on before it could be turned into a war memorial site.

“We have a lot of Australians and New Zealanders staying with us and we can already see how such a site could hold great meaning not only for them but for our Fijian soldiers.

“We want to be able to have tourists come in and visit this area which we didn’t expect to be found in this spot.

“It is part of Fiji’s rich history and we should be proud of it.”