The Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (DUAP) is implementing the Foreshore Development Act (FDA) throughout the country.
This Act is to guide developments in different coastal areas, ports and harbors within the country.
The Foreshore Unit under DUAP is responsible of the management and control of developments in coastal areas guided by the Foreshore Development Act (Cap90).
Senior Foreshore Development Officer, Robinson Dickson says due to long fast developments happening around the country it is imperative for promptly inspection for every developer to adhere to the Act.
Mr. Dickson says that foreshore means the land below mean high water and the bed of the sea within the territorial water of Vanuatu (including the ports and harbors thereof) and includes land below mean high water mark in any lagoon having direct access to the open sea.
“Therefore, the lease holder is not entitled to the foreshore land and High-Water Mark because it belongs to the custom owner, and for any development to ensure custom owner must consent”, he said.
It has come to the attention to the Foreshore Unit that many developers ignore the landowner and not have a Foreshore permit and it’s a breach of the Foreshore Development Act.
He encourages all developers throughout Vanuatu to come forward and apply for foreshore permit at the DUAP office located at the Ministry of Internal Affairs or can visit our website on https://duap.gov.vu
Forms can be collected also at DUAP office or Area Councils, and the application fee is 20,000vt at the finance department checklist required followed by a site visit, foreshore advisory committee for due diligence screening process by the Foreshore Advisory Committee (FAC) pending minister’s approval for permit.
Any breach of the Act will be an offence if he/she does not have the permit or do not comply with conditions and can be fined up to 5,000,000VT, or 5 years imprisonment.
Custom landowners and chiefs of Eratap Village on Efate have given their blessings on works for the Port Vila Memorial Garden to commence on their land.
Vanuatu is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, climate change and natural hazards such as tropical cyclones, tsunamis, storm surge, sea-level rise, flooding, prolonged droughts, ocean acidification earthquake related hazards and volcanic events.
The Department of Lands (DoL) and Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (DUAP), jointly with the World Bank Group (WBG) are organizing a stakeholder workshop on Subdivision Planning and Resilient at the Melanesian Hotel from June 22-24, 2021.
The workshop is part of a series of activities undertaken by the Government to engage stakeholders in the national dialogue on reforms on subdivision planning and resilient settlements in Vanuatu.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs is proud to open a new department after years of hard work — the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (DUAP).
The launching of the new department took place on the 28th of April, witnessed by government officials, public service workers as well as representatives from the private sector.