By MALUM NALU
Daru will no longer be the “forgotten cousin” of
Western province as a number of multi-million kina projects begin on the island
town, says PNG Sustainable Development Program CEO David Sode.
These projects – which promise to transform the
local economy - include the US$300 million (K622 million) Daru Port for
international ships, K12 million wharf for local ships, K36 million airport
redevelopment, and K52 million water project.
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| Daru Airport terminal. The airport is being redeveloped under K36 million funding from the PNGSDP.-Picture by DAVID WILLIAMS |
A multi-million kina barramundi hatchery is already
in place in Daru to replenish the fast-diminishing popular meat fish.
Sode revealed PNGSDP’s ambitious plans for Daru
yesterday (Wednesday) after signing an agreement with Water PNG managing director
Patrick Amini for the water project to begin.
Work on the port will commence as soon as the domestic
wharf is completed by the end of this year.
Airport redevelopment is just about complete, while
work on the water project – which will take 12 months to finish – is to start
immediately after yesterday’s agreement signing with Water PNG.
Sode told The
National that the Daru Port project, especially, had the potential to
transform the forgotten island town, a reference to it being allowed to
deteriorate, with the provincial capital moved north to Kiunga.
“They (Daru) will no longer be the ‘forgotten
cousin’,” he said.
“They will be the ‘most-remembered’ cousin.”
Sode said the scale of the Daru Port project would
be phenomenal.
“It’s a massive thing,” he said.
“This new port will be a massive leap for the people
of Daru.”
“It’s going to be unbelievable.
“If we succeed, it’s going to be a game change for
the Australian front, Indonesian front, and PNG.
“It’s been a lot of hard work for some of us.”
PNG Ports Corporation Limited (PNGPCL) and PNGSDP embarked
on a project funding partnership to restore normal operations at Daru Port last
year.
The funding provided by PNGSDP is at the cost of K10
million for construction work and K360, 000 for the project management feeds
under a separate agreement.
The trestle and the wharf head were originally built
in 1964 but had not been in operation since 2008 due to severe deterioration to
the trestle structure.
The Daru Airport development is a private-public
partnership between National Airports Corporation and the PNGSDP.
Sode said work on the airport, which began in the
middle of last year, could have been finished earlier but for the fact that
rocks had to be sourced from Port Moresby.
“The contract was issued last May,” he said.
“Airport development should be finished by the end
of this month.”
Under the water agreement signed yesterday, PNGSDP
will provide funding of K52 million to improve water and sewerage systems while
Water PNG, which owns the systems, will provide the technical support for the
project.
The project is estimated to cost about K20 million
and will take 12 months to complete from signing of the agreement.
This is all very encouraging from PNGSDP. What will "transform the local economy" is engagement and consultation with local communities, business community,local level government, provincial government, other government agencies, churches etc to help people understand how can I achieve for my community;what initiative should I take to help in this development being provided. Lack of community consultations may lead to all sorts of problems whether directly or indirectly related to these projects.
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