A proposal to operate a quarry in Leauva’a has received the backing of the villagers.

The decision was confirmed by the Village Mayor, Fiapule Sefo, during an interview with the Samoa Observer.

A public notice last month announced the Silva Group's proposal to operate an existing quarry in Leauva’a and invited responses. 

Fiapule said they held a village meeting last month where all the matai, including Minister for Tourism, Sala Fata Pinati, who is also a member of the Village Council, pledged their support.  

“[The quarry] is a big help for the villagers through monetary [contributions] and donations,” he said.

“It also provides employment for the youths of the village and for our village in the future.”

Fiapule said in their village meeting last month, the Owner of Silva Group, Leauva’a Sala Silva, offered his assistance to build a new school for the village. 

“The whole village supports the company and the quarry. [Sala] donates $10,000 every year to the village for our projects," he said. 

“If we [make a] request for assistance as a village, [Sala] always assists with the road when it’s in bad condition by filling pot holes.”

He said the land where the quarry is located belongs the village and the Silva Group pays to use the land. 

“There are no environmental damages and the place is only used to plant tamu as the soil is filled with rocks.”

Company owner, Leauva’a, said the quarry has been operating for more than two years, mining gravel and crush blocks for aggregate.  

“Arrangements have already been done with the village. The quarry is useful because it crushes the rocks for our village, cements driveways, houses, and the road," he said. 

Leauva’a said the number of quarries in Samoa is a challenge but it has advantages as there would be competition in prices and people would have a lot of choices.

The proposal was released by the Planning and Urban Management Agency of the Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure