Apply for land use sublease at the Land Management Department
Agency: Land Management Department
Land in South Tarawa is leased to the government for 90 years. The type of warehouse featured in the Doing Business case study is most likely to be built in South Tarawa’s Betio, Bikenibeu, or Bairiki areas, where land must be subleased from the government.
BuildCo writes an expression of interest for a sublease to the Land Management Department (LMD) at the Ministry of Environment, Land and Agriculture Development (MELAD). LMD will then inspect the site and determine any constraints and opportunities for land use.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive inspection from the Land Management Department
Agency: Land Management Department
The application form outlines all requirements for the submission of construction plans.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Request and obtain approval from the Public Utility Board (PUB)
Agency: Public Utility Board
BuildCo must submit the site plan and location to PUB so it can visit the site and confirm that there is no danger to underground electricity cables and water pipes and the plot is safe to excavate. PUB must then stamp BuildCo’s building permit application.
Time and cost: 7 days, AUD 1
Obtain land use sublease approval from the Sublease Advisory Allocation Committee (SAAC)
Agency: Sublease Advisory Allocation Committee
The Sublease Advisory Allocation Committee (SAAC) must approve the sublease. Meetings of SAAC are chaired by the Secretary of MELAD and are supposed to take place once a month.
Once approved by SAAC, the request is submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers for approval. The final document is then signed by the Minister.
Time and cost: 90 days, no charge
Request and obtain environmental license
Agency: Environment and Conservation Department
According to the Environmental Act 2007, BuildCo must obtain an environmental license to determine whether its activities will have an environmental impact. BuildCo must complete an environment license application form and file it, along with the site plan, zoning certificate, and proof of ownership, with the Environment and Conservation Department (ECD) of MELAD. ECD will prepare a report and determine whether a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required. However, the type of warehouse featured in the Doing Business case study would most likely not require a full EIA.
Time and cost: 15 days, AUD 10
Request approval from the Public Works Department
Agency: Public Works Department
BuildCo must submit the following documents:
- Site plan
- Building layout plan
- Building views
- Building sectional views
- Building details (such as footing, doors and windows)
- Plumbing
- Elevation
The application must be accompanied by plans certified by a qualified engineer. In practice, the same architects or engineers who prepare the plans are also responsible for approving them. The plans are returned with a list of building conditions. Several departments will be approving the plans.
Since the plans are completed by an employee at the Public Work Department, approval of the plans does not take a long time. Also, it is done in parallel with obtaining all the other clearances, as there is no need to provide those clearances to the Ministry to obtain the approval of the plans.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive inspection from the Public Works Department before construction begins
Agency: Public Works Department
According to the Environmental Act, the Environment Minister’s consent is required for all commercial developments. The application must be accompanied by the environmental impact assessment. The time to obtain the consent varies from weeks to several months.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Obtain approval from the Public Works Department
Agency: Public Works Department
Time and cost: 14 days, no charge
Request and receive approval from the Local Land Planning Board and pay the building permit fee
Agency: Local Land Planning Board
The Local Land Planning Board reviews all submitted documents and assesses whether:
- The site is free for development
- The development is in line with a detailed land use plan
- All clearances from relevant authorities have been collected
The Board is supposed to meet once a month. Another possibility is to call an immediate meeting, which means that BuildCo must pay for the time and transportation of all 18 members of the Board. The normal cost is 0.25% of the project value.
Time and cost: 30 days, AUD 523
Receive site setout inspection from the Public Works Department
Agency: Public Works Department
According to the Second Schedule of the Building Act 2006, there are four phased at which any building must be inspected and work cannot proceed further if each inspection does not take place.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive completion of the structural framework and before the placement of any internal lining inspection
Agency: Public Works Department
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive completion of water supply piping, waste lines, septic tanks and soakways and electrical conduits prior to concealment inspection
Agency: Public Works Department
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive completion of placement of form work, and placement of steel reinforcing
Agency: Ministry of Public Work
According to Schedule II of the Building Act 2006, an inspection for the completion of placement of form work, and placement of steel reinforcing must be conducted prior to continuation of work.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive final inspection and obtain certificate of occupancy
Agency: Public Works Department
According to Article 12 of the Building Act, after a construction is completed, the owner must request a certificate of occupancy.
Time and cost: 7 days, no charge
Build a Septic Tank
Agency: Private Contractors
There is no public sewerage system in Tarawa and special septic tanks must be built as the islands have a maximum elevation of 4 meters above sea level. A fresh water lens is within 2m of the surface for which reason traditional septic tanks would pose problems from leakage and/or uplift. Usually, septic tanks in Kiribati are either plastic moulded shallow holding tanks set with concrete surround or concrete and blockwork shallow bitumen tanks.
Time and cost: 30 days, AUD 16,750
Obtain water connection from Public Works Department
Agency: Public Works Department
The Public Works Department installs in the water meter and a final water connection is established. All piping works are the responsibility of BuildCo.
Time and cost: 10 days, AUD 30
