Operation

The Department’s role is to support the Director of Town & Country Planning to execute the duties and responsibilities set out in the Town Planning Act and Subdivision of Land Act. To manage these functions, the Department is divided into three sections: Forward Planning, Development Control, and Subdivision.

To manage its functions, the Department is divided into three sections, under the leadership of the Director of Town & Country Planning.

The Forward Planning section prepares and reviews Town Planning Schemes for approval, and considers proposals for rezoning and major developments (which represent policy creation or amendment). The section’s main responsibilities are:

• To prepare, revise and amend Town Planning Schemes.
• To prepare local advisory plans of potential growth areas.
• To determine rezoning proposals from rural town planning areas.
• To consider foreshore development proposals and make appropriate recommendations to Director of Lands.
• To provide planning advice to Town Councils, Rural Local Authorities, government authorities and bodies, stakeholders, private sector, the public.
• To offer strategic advice on applications for development permission and subdivision as required.
• To provide background reports to the Minister on appeals made on rezoning decisions made by the Director.

The Development Control section of the Department processes applications for developments that are referred to the Department by local authorities. This includes all applications for development outside of areas with approved Town Planning Schemes and applications for conditional development seeking relaxation from the provisions of an approved Scheme. The main objectives of the section are:

• To consider and determine applications under the
• To advise local authorities and consultants on matters relating to the control of developments.
• To provide advice and information in response to enquiries relating to development control processes, requirements and applications.
• To provide background reports to the Minister on appeals made on applications refused by the Director.

The Subdivision section of the Department processes applications for subdivision that are made to the Department by developers. This includes applications for the subdivision of land in all parts of Fiji except for the cities of Suva and Lautoka, which have their own By-Laws for subdivision. The Subdivision section of the Department is responsible for the following:

• To process applications for subdivision of land.
• To assess and approve engineering plans relating to land subdivisions.
• To provide advice and information to land developers, consultants and other government agencies on land subdivision matters.
• To provide reports to the Minister on appeals made against decisions of the Director on subdivision applications.