DUAP Strengthens Support to Luganville and Lenakel Municipalities
The Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (DUAP) has strengthened its engagement with municipal councils through official visits to the Luganville Municipal Council in Santo and Lenakel Town Municipality in Tanna during September.
Led by the DUAP Director, Jeffrey Kaitip, the visits brought together senior officers and Heads of Units to discuss municipal priorities, operational challenges and opportunities for improved coordination.
The engagements are part of DUAP’s role and commitment to supporting effective municipal administration and service delivery across Vanuatu.
“These visits allow us to listen directly to municipal councils, understand their priorities and work together on practical improvements to services and administration,” Mr Kaitip said.
Luganville Municipal Council
During the visit to Luganville Municipal Council (LMC), the DUAP delegation met with LMC Clerk Mr Renold Surmat and his team to discuss key priorities and outstanding municipal issues.
These included landfill improvement, cemetery expansion, waste management, building permits, rubbish collection, enforcement support, staffing requirements and other operational matters.
Mr Kaitip also visited the different sections of the Council and engaged directly with staff to better understand their current challenges, operational requirements and priority areas for improvement.
Mr Surmat and his team welcomed the delegation and acknowledged DUAP’s commitment to supporting the Council.
DUAP representatives meet with the Luganville Municipality team during a municipal support visit to discuss local planning priorities, development challenges and opportunities for continued collaboration.
Lenakel Town Municipality
Earlier in September, Mr Kaitip and senior DUAP officers also visited Lenakel Town Municipality in Tanna.
The visit marked the first comprehensive Director-level engagement with the municipality and provided an opportunity for direct discussions with the Municipal Administrator and Council team.
The Council raised several long-standing issues relating to municipal infrastructure, urban management and service delivery. These included Council office facilities, the Lenakel Market House, landfill and waste management, rubbish collection, waste-removal vehicles and equipment, roads, building permits, staffing and administrative support.
The Lenakel municipal team welcomed the visit and expressed appreciation for DUAP travelling to Tanna to hear directly about the Council’s priorities and operational challenges.
DUAP representatives meet with the Lenakel Municipality team during a municipal support visit to discuss local planning priorities, development challenges and opportunities for continued collaboration.
Strengthening Municipal Services
The visits form part of DUAP’s wider legislative, policy and technical role in urban planning, development control and municipal governance.
Through continued engagement with municipal councils, DUAP aims to strengthen coordination between national and municipal authorities, improve urban infrastructure and services, and support more effective municipal administration.
VFIPA Board Briefed on Port Vila CBD Rebuild to support investment
The Vanuatu Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (VFIPA) Board was briefed on the Port Vila Central Business District (CBD) recovery and rebuild programme on September 22, 2026.
The presentation was delivered by Nik Regenvanu, Project Manager Recovery in the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning’s Project Management Unit.
“The CBD rebuild is not only about recovery. It is also about creating a safer, more resilient and economically active city centre that gives businesses and investors greater confidence,” Mr Regenvanu said.
The presentation provided an update on the Government’s work to support the CBD’s recovery and long-term redevelopment following the December 2024 earthquake.
Discussions covered the Port Vila CBD Vision and Concept Plan, geotechnical guidance, infrastructure and urban-design priorities, business recovery, and opportunities to strengthen investor awareness and confidence in the redevelopment of Port Vila.
The engagement highlighted the importance of ensuring that existing and prospective investors have access to accurate and current information about the CBD rebuild, relevant planning requirements and emerging development priorities.
It also provided an opportunity to consider how the Government and VFIPA can work together to communicate the Government’s vision for a safer, more resilient and economically active city centre, while encouraging responsible investment.
Continued coordination between the Government, VFIPA, Port Vila City Council, development partners and the private sector will be important as the rebuild programme progresses.
The VFIPA Board welcomed the presentation and the opportunity to learn more about the progress being made in the CBD’s recovery and long-term redevelopment.
