Australia’s ‘richest garbo’ pushes mega incinerator

A proposal for a $1.4 billion waste incinerator in Fiji is moving forward, with proponents aiming to build the Southern Hemisphere’s largest waste-to-energy plant at Vuda Point near Nadi.

The project is being driven by Rob Cromb, managing director of the Kookai fashion label, with financial backing from investor Ian Malouf. The facility is currently undergoing a crucial Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.

Capacity and Waste Sourcing

The scale of the proposed plant significantly exceeds Fiji’s domestic waste production. While Fiji generates about 300,000 tonnes of waste per year, the facility is designed to process up to 900,000 tonnes.

Project documentation indicates the plant would initially draw on an estimated five million tonnes of existing landfill stockpile, providing roughly 500,000 tonnes of feedstock annually for about a decade.

Proponents have identified waste imports from other Pacific islands as a “supplementary source” to meet capacity requirements, a need expected to arise around 2033 once local stockpiles are exhausted.

Industry Arguments and Design

Rob Cromb stated the project is “fundamentally different” from previous proposals in Australia, which were rejected following community opposition and regulatory scrutiny.

Cromb highlighted the use of European-standard emissions controls and cyclone-resilient engineering tailored for Fiji’s specific conditions. He emphasized that the primary goal is to manage Fiji’s growing waste volume, though he acknowledged the plant could eventually rely on imported waste to operate at full capacity.

Developers argue the incinerator will create jobs, generate energy, and reduce the nation’s reliance on imported diesel.

Environmental and Economic Concerns

The proposal has faced sharp criticism, with Fiji’s UN ambassador, Filipo Tarakinikini, warning that Vuda Point “must not become the Pacific’s ashtray.”

Tarakinikini questioned why a project that failed to meet Australian environmental and health standards should be accepted in Fiji, where regulatory infrastructure is more limited.

Critics also warn that placing a heavy industrial plant in the heart of a key tourism corridor—an area featuring resorts and beachfront developments—could damage Fiji’s global tourism brand, lower property values, and undermine investor confidence.

Current Status

The project has not yet received final approval. It remains subject to a government review and the outcome of public submissions.

The Fiji environment department will accept public submissions on the proposal until April 22, with the final decision resting with the Rabuka Government.