Work finally begins on Fiji's first casino

Transcript

After a number of false starts the developer behind Fiji's first casino says construction is underway.

One Hundred Sands Limited was granted a casino licence by the regime in December 2011 and construction on Denarau Island near Nadi, was expected to start in 2012.

The developer Larry Claunch says a change in location and challenges in securing funding set the $155 million US dollar project back.

Mr Claunch told Bridget Tunnicliffe the physical work has started.

LARRY CLAUNCH: We are under construction and hauling on hundreds of loads of rock a day to build up the site.

BRIDGET TUNNICLIFFE: I understand some of the latest delays were due because you picked the new site, you had to do a lot more earth works that you first thought.

LC: Yes, we did all the geo-tech and we had to drill bore holes 50 metres down to test the ground. Everything came out really wonderful so once we got all that established then we could start hauling the rock in cause we need to build the site about three or four metres above the road level.

BT: Did you encounter any reluctance or road blocks when you were trying to seek funding from international sources because of the political situation in Fiji? Did that put anyone off?

LC: Well, the political situation never really put anyone off because once we were able to have the discussion about where Fiji was heading and how great the government is here, that never was part of the issue. It was more related to the casino itself and it takes a very special kind of funding to fund a casino.

BT: Have you found the government has been easy to deal with during this process?

LC: The government's been wonderful. I mean, obviously they've been strict and want our plan that we set out to be fulfilled and that's exactly what we're doing. Because, a large part of this casino project  is designed to give back to the social programmes in Fiji, education for the children, helping develop infrastructure in remote villages. So there's a lot of pluses to get it moving along.

BT: Do you think this project has the potential to change the face of tourism in Fiji?

LC: It's certainly going to add a new dimension. We're building out quite a number of resort rooms because we really feel like we'll attract a new type of tourist. Of course the project work on its own would be tourist based. But yes I do believe that we'll change that tourist landscape just a little bit.      

Larry Claunch expects construction of the casino, convention centre and the bulk of the resort rooms will take 18 to 24 months to complete.