Decision 39 COM 7B.63

Levuka Historical Port Town (Fiji) (C 1399)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 37 COM 8B.25, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
3. Commends the efforts made by the State Party in responding to all the recommendation made by the Committee, notably:
   1. Revising and including the concept of buffer zone management for World Heritage properties, as well as potential future sites in Fiji within the Fiji Heritage Bill,
   2. Progressing with the medium term plan for conservation and cooperating with Heritage New Zealand (New Zealand Agency for International Development) and JICA (Japanese International Cooperation Agency) for the development of a conservation plan and implementation guidelines for stakeholders, as well as a number of capacity building activities,
   3. Completing the Levuka and Ovalau Heritage Register including archaeological sites,
   4. Revising the Levuka Town Planning Scheme to regulate the developments within the property, buffer zone and wider setting;
4. Reiterates its recommendation on the requirement of Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) following the ICOMOS Guidance on HIAs for Cultural World Heritage properties in order to adequately assess the potential negative impact of any type of tourism developments in the property, buffer zone and wider setting;
5. Requests the State Party to proceed with the works and actions required to officially adopt and implement the Fiji Heritage Bill, the medium-term plan for conservation and the Levuka Town Planning Scheme;
6. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2016, an updated progress report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above.