THE first phase of Waila City should be opened in mid 2014, following the signing of a master agreement between the Housing Authority and the Top Symphony of Malaysia yesterday.
Managing director of Top Symphony Malaysia, Dato' Dr Sharifuddin Wahab said it would take at least a year and half for the first phase to be completed.
The cost of this phase is yet to be known as the bill of quantities has yet to be received.
However, HA chief executive Alipate Naiorosui said the billion dollar estimation of the Waila City project was based on the size of the project. The Waila City project is the first of its kind in Fiji, which is expected to be developed over seven phases in the next 10 years.
Once completed, it is expected to house at least 5000 Fijians in a self contained city.
Dr Sharifuddin said there were at least 3000 customers who had shown interest to own homes in Waila City.
HA chairman Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga said the master agreement formalised the working relationship between the authority and Top Symphony of Malaysia. The agreement outlined each party's role, obligations and commitment in relation to the project and covered a range of infrastructure issues such as roads, drainage, sewerage and energy. "Going forward, the Top Symphony of Malaysia will now begin working on detailed plans for the delivery of phase one which we anticipate will yield 1700 affordable residential units with at least 50 commercial units that will provide goods and services to the initial residents of Waila city," Col. Tikoitoga said.
"We will also be working on a supplementary agreement that will detail each phase's scope of works."
Col. Tikoitoga emphasised the need for total support from government agencies including municipal councils and the ministry of Town and Country Planning for the quick facilitation of approvals.