In November 2014, Fletcher Building was named as a construction partner in the redevelopment of Bridgecorp’s ill-fated Momi Bay resort — a contract worth approximately NZD $130 million. Situated between Fiji’s two most popular resort areas, Denarau and the Coral Coast, Momi Bay was designed to offer luxury hotel style accommodation. The resort project was officially restarted by the country’s Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.
FCC were appointed by the client, Fiji National Provident Fund, to undertake remediation works and complete the 250-room hotel on Fiji’s main island Viti Levu in late 2014. Techlam NZ became involved shortly after Fletchers' appointment and it soon became obvious that there was a lot of work to be done.
The resort was in a less than half finished state, and Techlam had to identify which parts of the structure had to be replaced, which parts could be kept and reinstated, and obviously the remainder that had never been manufactured. Techlam worked closely with FCC-SP over many months coordinating the glulam members and arranging shipment. Some of the main tusks weighed several tonnes each and freight from NZ to site had to be managed carefully.
The finished resort looks stunning and includes three restaurants, two swimming pools, fitness and recreation centres, gift shops, tennis courts and a spa with eight treatment rooms, 114 free-standing bures and 136 standard rooms. 22 of the bures are overwater — the first man made lagoon based resort in Fiji. The resort created over 500 local jobs.
Location: Savusavu Road, Momi Bay, Nadi, Fiji
Client: Marriott International Hotels & Resorts
Architect: The Buchan Group / CArch Studio Architects
Structural Engineer: HLKJacob
Builder: Fletcher Construction – South Pacific
Products Used: Curved Techlam ‘Tusk’ Beams, Columns
Date: 2016/17