The Ministry of Forestry since the end of July has repurposed Pine timber in Kadavu for close to 200 homes.

$1.5million has been allocated for Maritime Pine Development and the purchase of harvesting machines and equipment.

The Ministry believes the National Budget will complement the government’s housing rehabilitation in the Islands.

Minister for Forestry Osea Naiqamu says budget will accelerate the efforts to re-purpose timber for all the damaged houses within the next few months.

The Ministry also managed to purchase four additional portable sawmills just before the 2019-2020 financial year ended.

It is now enlisting the support of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces to help build roads to ease the extraction of trees.