Traditional landowners of the Naboro Landfill will receive an increased community levy after Cabinet approved a revised agreement with the Yavusa Bativudi.

The levy will rise from 78 cents to 85 cents for every tonne of waste deposited at the landfill.

Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya told Parliament that although the landfill sits on State Freehold Land, the area is ancestral land of the Yavusa Bativudi.

She said Government recognised the importance of ensuring the community gains tangible benefits from the use of its ancestral land.

The Community Levy Agreement has been operating since 2014, with funds directed towards areas including education, housing, village development, investment, funerals and other community responsibilities.

The Yavusa Bativudi sought a review of the arrangement in 2024, requesting an increase in the levy and a more equitable distribution of the benefits.

Tabuya said Government held consultations with the community, the iTaukei Affairs Board and relevant government agencies before carrying out a Cost Benefit Analysis.

She said the review aimed to strike a balance between providing a fair return to landowners, protecting taxpayers and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Naboro landfill.

Under the revised agreement approved by Cabinet in July 2026, the levy benefits will be divided equally across five areas: education, village housing, capital development and investments, village development, and funeral and village functions.

The revised agreement will cover a five-year period from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2029, matching the current operating contract for the Naboro Landfill.