Paetou’s construction in court

The Tahei auti ia Moorea federation has filed a writ of summons against SNC Paetou following “irregularities” observed during its work on the Paetou site in Teavaro. The federation is also denouncing the inaction of the relevant authorities, in particular the Construction and Planning Department, in this matter. A hearing is scheduled for Monday at the civil court.

Having received no response from the Direction de la Construction et de l’Aménagement or from the municipality of Moorea regarding the reports made last February concerning the work carried out by SNC Paetou (on the Paetou site) in Teavaro, and the reasons why this work was halted, the Tahei auti ia Moorea federation decided to take legal action against the company owned by developer Olivier Billaudet on August 25. The aim of this action is to appoint an expert to come and observe the illegality of part of the work carried out.

In particular, the federation accuses SNC Paetou of having illegally carried out excavation work, outside the scope of permit no. 20-1251-4/MLA/OCA dated May 28, 2021, on an area of 8,500 square meters of plot CL1, and of having used the volume of excavated material to backfill plot CL13, again outside the scope of this permit, without an amendment to the initial permit having been granted, and in the absence of any signage justifying an authorization obtained after the event. The federation therefore considers “this work to be illegal, given that at the time of the report, SNC Paetou had not yet sold these plots, which were intended for the creation of a commercial and industrial zone, and that it was up to the purchasers alone to carry out the earthworks, as specified in permit 20-1251”. Furthermore, the federation chaired by Rahiti Buchin believes that “given the volume involved, SNC Paetou should at the very least have obtained a development permit with an environmental impact assessment, in compliance with the new provisions of the appraisal procedures relating to development permits (Council of Ministers of December 1, 2021).”

“An open door to all kinds of excesses by developers”.

A hearing is scheduled for this Monday at the civil court in the presence of the various parties involved. In addition to the substance of the case, Tahei auti ia Moorea regrets that the competent authorities did not intervene to verify for themselves the irregularities observed during the work. “It’s incredible because we’re here to make up for the shortcomings of the town planning department and Moorea town hall. The commune tells us it doesn’t have the means to go and check. We’re doing the work that should normally be done by the town planning department. If we don’t do anything, it’s going to open the door to all kinds of excesses by developers”, says Jérôme Defossez, a member of the federation, bitterly, before addressing the developers directly: “If you want to make big profits with projects that are not unanimously supported by the population, you can only do so in strict compliance with the authorizations granted. The associations will be there to see to that.”

Extract, read the original article published by Tahiti Infos