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 government has embarked on a number of policy and institutional reforms to strengthen subdivision developments and improve institutional arrangement for strengthen urban settlement planning in Vanuatu by launching the National Subdivision Policy through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in 2019 and establishing the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning under the Ministry of Internal Affairs in May 2021.
The Subdivision Policy provides a clear purpose and guidelines by which subdivisions may be created and to establish the parameters of the administrative processes to achieve its purpose, and also taking into account disaster risk and climate change.
The workshop aims to; (i) build capacity and greater awareness around the national subdivision policy planning and principles taking into account affordable and resilient settlements and the important role of the private sector; (ii) develop a draft concept plan guideline for planners and subdivision applicants; (iii) develop a draft review guideline for Land Management Planning Committee (LPMC) lease applications and approval process; and to (iv) revalidate the draft subdivision policy regulations that is ready to be endorsed.
The workshop participants include policy makers, planners and surveyors, private practitioners, students and academic institutions.
“I am very pleased with the participation of our stakeholders in the workshop and their contributions to the development of the Subdivision Concept Plan and the LPMC administrative and review guidelines for subdivision applications. These documents are critical for the implementation of the Subdivision Policy and to facilitate affordable and resilient settlements in Vanuatu,” said Mr. Arthur Faerua, Director General, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
Mrs. Cherol Ala, Director General, Ministry of Internal Affairs also reiterated that, “It is essential that the Government undertakes the necessary policy and institutional reforms to strengthen settlement planning and improve living conditions and services not just in urban areas but also in the provincial centers of Vanuatu which are growing rapidly, as part of its decentralization policy”.
Source: Daily Post