New Lae property sets benchmark for the future

The new K50 million development on Second Street in Lae (pictured)  is destined to set a new standard for quality and excellence in the Lae property market once it is completed by mid 2011.
The building, 100% owned by the largest superannuation fund, Nambawan Super Ltd will comprise of basement car parking, five levels of high quality office/commercial space and two penthouse levels of premium residential space.
Contractor is Lae Builders and Contractors, architect is Pacific Architect Consortium (PNG) Ltd Project managers  is Point Project Management, Civil and structural engineers is Kramer Group, and services engineers is M&E Partnership Ltd.
“Nambawan Super Limited has realised that the continued growth and prosperity of Papua New Guinea relies on the creation of suitable buildings and facilities,” said managing director Leon Buskens.
“Both Port Moresby and Lae are currently lacking office and residential accommodation as evidenced by the high rental rates being paid. 
“As part of a wider investment strategy, Nambawan Super Limited is in the process of constructing a number of ‘landmark’ buildings including the new Lae ‘Top Town’ Building; an affordable housing development at Eight-Mile in Port Moresby and a multi-storey mixed commercial / residential building in Port Moresby CBD.
“All these projects provide a balance between responsible investment in PNG’s future and solid returns for members of the fund.”
Lae Builders and Contractors Limited (LBC) has been awarded the construction contract for the ‘Top Town’ building and will employ 220 people from around Lae and PNG for approximately 2.5 years while the job is progressing.
Skilled employees will range from programmers and health and safety officers to electricians and bricklayers.
“Mike Gibson is the commercial and contracts manager for LBC and it is his responsibility to coordinate all the various work packages,” Mr Buskens said.
“Most material for the building is being manufactured locally by Lae Builders, which adds a second tier of investment into the local economy.
“For instance, LBC has commissioned its own concrete batching plant and concrete beam manufacturing facility.”
Only recently, LBC chairman, Sir Bob Sinclair, presented an overview of the construction techniques involved with this complicated structure to building students at the University of Technology in Lae. 
“The project will provide a valuable ‘real world’ learning tool to the construction professionals of the future,” Mr Buskens said.
“The total cost of the project is approximately PGK 50,000,000 and completion is expected in mid 2011.
“As part of the project, Nambawan Super will be investing in local infrastructure such as electricity sub-stations.
“The building will also be a step into the future for PNG.
“The design team has worked hard to ‘future proof’ the building by incorporating features such as energy-efficient chillers, energy-efficient lighting, high quality glazing that limits energy loss, low water bathroom appliances and sun hoods to limit temperature rise caused by solar heating.
“In addition, the building has the latest fire safety systems including an independent tank for fire water supply.
“Ease of maintenance has also been a major consideration to ensure that the building maintains its status as the prime address in Lae for many years.
“The stunning design by Pacific Architect Consortium of Port Moresby offers a choice of    one or three-bedroom apartments or commercial space with a floor plate of up to 900 square metres.
“The positioning of the building on ‘Top Town’ hill guarantees spectacular views of both the Finisterre Ranges and the Huon Gulf.
“It is expected that the new ‘Top Town’ building will be the first in a long line of developments that will reinforce Lae’s position as a major city within the region.                                               “Nambawan Super Ltd has engaged the services of Point Project Management who are based in the offices of Rumbam Engineers in Port Moresby.
“Point will be working with prospective tenants to ensure the facilities are fit for purpose and can drive business success right through the next decade.”
•       For further information about the building or for prospective tenancy information please contact Justin Parker on justin.parker@pointpm.com.au  

Record prize money offered by University of Goroka for art awards

Ms Sally Watson of New Guinea Fruit Company and UOG chancellor Peter Baki (CBE) Chancellor standing under the banner to officially launch the Live Lave Art Awards competition last Wednesday night.Picture by KATE GUNN of UOG

Art in Papua New Guinea has entered a new dimension with the launching of the Live Lave Art Awards.
The competition was formally launched on campus at the University of Goroka (UOG) last Wednesday.
In a first for UOG, a total prize pool of over K20, 000 will be offered for winning entries in the Live Lave Art Awards competition for 2009.
The competition will be the highest-ever paying of prizes for art awards in Papua New Guinea.
The Live Lave Art Awards is jointly sponsored by the New Guinea Fruit Company and UOG, and is a competition for artworks in three different media: painting, printmaking and innovative craft sculptural form.
First prize for the painting category is a record K10, 000, while second prize is K5, 000.
New Guinea Fruit Company, a Goroka-based business specialising in locally-made fruit drinks and other fruit products, moved to support the arts at UOG through donating K36, 500 to support the Live Lave Art Awards competition.
Acting vice chancellor of the UOG, Associate Prof Michael Mel described the evening as “a special occasion for many of us…as many things make UOG unique from its other sister universities and the development of culture is one of these factors”.
Prof Mel said the art awards had become an annual event at UOG after its initial conception during the Goroka Coffee Festival in 2008.
He said that this year’s art awards were a “private and public collaboration between New Guinea Fruit Company and UOG to support and collect culture in its various artistic forms”.
New Guinea Fruit Company representative Ms Sally Watson, who attended the evening, said sponsoring art had been an idea of the company’s for the last few years and of great interest to them.
She said it was a pleasure to be involved as it “is important to preserve art for the future” especially for our children’s sake.
The programme for the evening included guests touring an exhibition of entries from last year’s competition acquired by the UOG; witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between UOG and New Guinea Fruit Company and the official launching of the Live Lave Art Awards by UOG chancellor Peter Baki and Ms Watson representative of New Guinea Fruit Company.
Mr Baki said the loss of culture equaled the loss of a nation.
“The future is redesigned and rewritten, with UOG’s support for culture, starting tonight,” he said.
The launching saw a good turnout from corporate friends and staff of UOG, including council members, who were happy to support UOG and sample products from New Guinea Fruit Company.

EXERCISE FOR PEOPLE OVER 50

From PAUL OATES in Queensland, Australia

 

This seems a little daunting to start with but if you apply yourself you may find that it's not as difficult as you think.
Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.
With a 5-kg potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full
minute, and then relax.
Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.
After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-kg potato sacks.
Then try 25-kg potato sacks and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 50-kg potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at this level.)
After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each sack.
 

Wattle bark

From PAUL OATES in Queensland, Australia

Australia's National floral emblem is the Golden Wattle (top picture) ,  however,  I think the Cootamundra Wattle (second picture)  is spectacular. Wattle trees flower in winter and it's heavy 'nutty' perfume fills the air.

BTW - Does anyone know how you spell Wattle bark in three letters?

A wedding made in Lae

Husband and wife...Dobbin and Evelyn Laka emerge from the Cassowary United Church last Saturday after their wedding

Bride Evelyn Faunt and her flower girls

An emotional David Faunt leads his daughter Evelyn to her wedding to Dobbin Laka

Man of the moment Dobbin Laka (right) with his escorts

Guests emerging from Cassowary United Church after the wedding

Two longtime Lae families – the Lakas and the Faunts – came closer together last Saturday when Dobbin Laka tied the knot with sweetheart Evelyn Faunt at the Cassowary Road United Church.
Rainy Lae gave its blessing by not pouring down on this special day for the young couple.
Family, friends and relatives from all over PNG, including Lae MP Bart Philemon, gathered at the church for the wedding and exchange of vows, which was conducted by Rev Raka Aiga.
This was followed by traditional Manus exchange of gifts and a wedding reception at the Lae International Hotel.
Dobbin Laka is the son of well-known former cricketer and Lae businessman Harry Laka and netball personality Jill Laka, while Evelyn Faunt is the daughter of respected teacher David Faunt and whose mother, from Manus, and another highly-regarded teacher, has passed away.
The Faunt family includes Papua New Guinea singing sensation, John Faunt, of the Lae-based Hauboi band.
The couple met while at the University of Technology in Lae

Pictures of Bootless Bay, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Pacific Adventist University goes more hi-tech with new computers

Jackson Kumye and Donalyne Kuamin, both third-year education students at PAU, working on two of the new computers installed this week

Pacific Adventist University has maintained its status as one of the most hi-tech institutions in Papua New Guinea with a significant upgrade to its computer laboratories this week.
While students at the long-established University of PNG and University of Technology are struggling for computers, their counterparts at PAU and Divine Word University in Madang are miles ahead.
PAU currently provides some of the best computer and technology facilities in PNG and these facilities are available to all students studying at PAU.
While studying at PAU, students as part of their fees are all provided access to computer labs (ratio of 4:1 students per computer, one of the best for any university in PNG), a school email address, wireless internet, ladies dorm computer and wireless access and access to the latest teaching and learning software and equipment.
The PAU this week installed 24 brand-new computers in the schools of business and science and technology.
The classroom computer upgrade program, costing approximately K70, 000, is running all of the most-current teaching and learning software including Windows Vista SP2 and Office 2007.
Additionally, because PAU is a member of the Microsoft IT Academy programme,
students there will also have access to and be taught in the use of Microsoft’s latest development software such as Visual Studio 2008, Expression 2, Visio 2007 and Project 2007.
The installation of 22-inch LCD screens will facilitate the teaching and learning of many of these programmes.
Ben Thomas, dean of the school of business, is excited about the installation of the new
computers.
“Computers play a critical role in all aspects of business,” he says.
“It is imperative that students learn to use the latest computer technology, as this will enable them to be successful in their future employment.
“I believe that PAU produces the best graduates because of our holistic emphasis on education.
“Good infrastructure and facilities, such as computers and the internet, as well as our focus on quality lectures, student work ethic, church participation and sports allow PAU to produce graduates who can be successful in any organisation.”
While installing the new computers, IT staff could overhear comments from students who are excited about the new facilities and equipment.
“These computer upgrades are part of our ongoing commitment to live up to our vision
statement to be the BEST (Biblically Sound, Educationally Valid, Spiritually Challenging, Technologically Relevant) provider of quality tertiary Christian
education in the Pacific islands,” says Wayne Hawken, communications director at PAU.
“These upgrades continue to ensure that PAU students have leading access to technology
while studying at PAU.”
PAU will continue to significantly upgrade its technology and computing facilities throughout the remainder of this year.
PAU is a tertiary institution owned and operated by the Seventh Day Adventist Church, offering diploma, bachelor and post-graduate awards in a range of disciplines.
PAU is located at Koiari Park, at 14-Mile outside Port Moresby, with affiliate campuses
At Fulton (Suva, Fiji) and Sonoma College in East New Britain province.