Lessons Learnt From Effective Consultation
Successful Outcomes Result From Public Participation in the Pacific
May 21, 2009
An example of where this has been successfully realised is the Wairiki Port development in Fiji.
In August 2008, an editorial in the Fiji Times celebrated a new international port facility, saying “the opening of the Wairiki Port in Vanua Levu is a tremendous step forward for investment, business and development”.
There were a number of consultation tools and best practice engagement principles used during the investigation, design and construction stages of the project which all assisted in achieving these successful outcomes.
Early and Ongoing Communication
At the first stages of the project a Project Steering Committee was set up. The Committee was made up of stakeholder representatives from over twenty organisations with an interest in the development, including Department of Town and Country Planning, Fiji Islands Maritime Safety Authority, and Land Owners. The Committee was kept up to date at monthly meetings, and played a vital part in making important decisions early in the process as the project gained momentum.
This committee also helped to reduce any resentment or suspicion of hiding information as they were involved as the project progressed.
Understanding How the Participants Wish to Be Consulted With
It was critical to the success of the public engagement programme for this project that the correct consultation process was followed. This included identifying early and correctly the people who would be affected by the project. An appreciation of the proper cultural protocols was vital in making sure the right people were spoken first.
Epeli Nasome, Director, Department for the Environment, Fiji commented that "the result of this widespread consultation was an informed community with a greater acceptance of the project".
Debating the issues with the local community at Wairiki and Naswea was fundamental so they were a key part of the decision-making. Ongoing feedback was provided as to how ideas and outcomes of consultation had been incorporated into the project.
Providing Information in a Meaningful Way
The baseline studies and an Environmental Impact Assessment were crucial to help the community understand the anticipated impacts of the development. The technical information (both verbal and written) was translated into user-friendly terminology and into the local dialect to help informed decision-making and to avoid any misunderstandings.
Visual representations (maps, diagrams, etc) were provided to the community so they could confirm locations of special environments or places of value.
There were a number of special environmental areas which were identified as needing to be protected. The final design of the Wairiki Port aimed to minimise damage to the vesi (native) forest by avoiding any development of the land within the area of the vesi forest. Minimising the impact on the foreshore and seabed, including keeping the number of mangroves removed to a minimum, was identified as being really important to the local community and was carried through into design.
Achieving successful consultation in such a remote location, and in a way that was so inclusive of the rural community, was one of the real accomplishments of this project.
 |
