By Ezra Toara

Copyright dailypost

The Government has contributed VT8,284,045 towards developments and projects under the Tongariki/Buninga Area Council.

Funding for the Area Council (AC) Office Building came mainly from government allocations, with an additional VT1 million from the Department of Local Authorities (DLA) to support construction.

The community also contributed through in-kind support, labour, and catering.

In addition to government grants, the Area Council administrator worked to secure external funding through project proposals. Rainwater harvesting projects, valued at VT14 million, were funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Gov4Res, and the British High Commission. Construction of community toilets and the Anchorage Ablution Block, costing around VT700,000, was sponsored by the New Zealand High Commission through its community grants program.

Road development also became a priority. The initiative began after a petition to the SHEFA Provincial Government Council (SPGC) during its official visits. The SPGC sponsored the first batch of road materials, with further support through the Area Council’s 2025 business plan, which contributed VT1.3 million toward road construction. The DLA assisted with freight costs and additional materials.

Minister of Internal Affairs Andrew Napuat, who officiated at the opening, described the occasion as an important milestone for the people of Tongariki and Buninga.

“It is a great honour for me to be with you today to mark the opening of an important facility—the Area Council Building—which will serve as the main centre for local governance and community development in Tongariki and Buninga,” he said. Napuat added that the opening celebrated wider development projects, ranging from coastal initiatives to those at the Area Council grounds, including improvements in health, sanitation, roads, water systems, and other key facilities.

Construction of the Area Council Building began in July 2022, led by TIROW Construction, a local contracting company owned by John Toara from Tongariki Island. Initially, the council requested that the foreman involve the community in building the facility. However, Toara chose to employ labourers to meet his 75-day contract deadline, which later created risks during the project.

Work progressed until heavy rainfall caused mud flooding, damaging road infrastructure and leaving building materials stranded at the Anchorage. Because the contractor had not engaged the local community, residents refused to carry materials up the steep hills without payment, which the council could not afford at the time.

These issues caused major delays. Weather and transportation challenges further compounded the problem, and materials shipped from Port Vila to Tongariki, including veranda supplies and solar anchorage lights transported on the LC Herpoli, went missing.

Minister Napuat assured that efforts will be made with the SPGC and DLA to recover the lost items. The first foreman, Mr. Toara, completed work only up to the beam stage.

Disputes with the council over sand shortages, road damage, and community dissatisfaction led him to abandon the project and return to Port Vila, leaving the building incomplete. At the end of 2023, the council recruited a second foreman, who began work in 2024.

Unlike his predecessor, the new foreman worked closely with the community and successfully completed the Area Council Building in August 2025. During the four years and eight months of construction delays, the Erata community provided a temporary office at a cost of VT10,000 per month. Major challenges throughout the process included sourcing sand for concrete, ongoing water shortages, limited human resources due to seasonal RSE employment, and competing community commitments.

Despite these setbacks, the completion and opening of the Tongariki/Buninga Area Council Building marks another step forward in strengthening local governance and supporting community development in the region.