Lae-Nadzab Super Highway

All pictures @MALUM NALU

An independent audit report commissioned by the government into the first stage of the Lae-Nadzab super highway from Bugandi to Wau-Bulolo turnoff says the costs as given by contractor China Railway International (CRI) are “unnecessarily high”.

The audit was done after a public outcry, stemming from the recent awarding of a K287.8m contract to CRI to reconstruct the first phase of the Lae to Nadzab section of the Highlands Highway, caused Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, to order an independent audit into how the project was procured, and whether the cost was within the context of good engineering practices.

Pictures of the current highway between Nadzab and Lae.

On Oct 21, 2013, IEPNG was requested through a consultancy agreement by the Chief Secretary to Government Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc, to undertake this independent audit and report its findings within 40 days.

The preliminary report was compiled by Institution of Engineers of PNG (IEPNG) and submitted on Monday, Nov 25, 2013.

The findings of the audit gave mixed results; underestimation of design criteria, lack of consideration for sustainability and future development and those could probably be the values that pushed up the potential risk factors.

“But seriously, with little data on the subgrade, and traffic, and by adopting a poor design alternative, the cost of reconstructing this section of the highway is unnecessarily high,” it said.

“Using the exact same design and bill of quantities, the audit team came up with a much lesser costs than what was priced by China Railway International.

“The audit team estimated that with this scope, it can be constructed at a cost of K173, 158,840.00 – almost 40% less than CRI.

“Two of the most expensive activities on the bill of quantities, as priced by CRI are earthworks and pavement - these two alone account for a difference of over K70m.

“It must be noted here as well that there is a discrepancy in the pricing of the project by CRI and the state transactional team (STT) failed to detect this.

“CRI included a cost of K7.6m to construct the Bewapi Bridge when it was part of the scope – this is complete negligence on the part of the STT who was supposed to provide the oversight before making the recommendation for execution.

“The audit team, in consultation with TMR and Coffey International, believes the pavement has been overdesigned, and this caused price inflation.

“By adopting a different design and utilising the existing pavement as the platform, the superimposed thickness can be much lesser and a huge saving to the state.

“With some more thorough field investigations and other calculations, the 9km section of the Highlands Highway can be reconstructed at a cost of about K110m.”

Our food, our life

All pictures @MALUM NALU

Last November, we had a big feast at home in Butibam village, Lae, for my two nieces.
We had so much to eat with family members from the Markham Valley, Salamaua and Lae.
That's why I love Lae.

Lae taro, bananas, greens and pork.

Family members from Markham firing up a pig.

Preparing a food basket from coconut leaves.

Preparing the food.

Sister Alison and brother David.

My Butibam village, Lae

All pictures @MALUMNALU

These are pictures of my last visit home to Butibam village, Lae, for the confirmation of my two nieces at St Andrew's Lutheran Church, Ampo, last November.

Younger sister Lepung with nephew Jimmy and nieces Lepung and Juanita.

Our village cemetery.

Mum's grave.

Nephew Jack's grave.

Men talk.

Feast time.

Sister Alison and brother David.

Confirmation day.

Our matmat (cemetery) at Butibam village.

My father's graveyard.

The main road through the village.

Our street.

Our home,

Our haus win (rest house)

Mum may be gone but the beautiful flowers she planted are there to remind us of her.

Family members seeing me off.

My cousin Bimaru.

How green was the valley

All pictures @MALUM NALU

Erap in the great Markham Valley of Morobe as Mangi Blo Ples comes on for landing at Nadzab last November.

Enga contractor says record speaks for itself

By MALUM NALU

The contractor that built the K6 million rural hospital in remote Kandep, Enga, says its track record speaks for itself.

Paul Kurai, managing director of Neno Construction and president of Kandep MP and Treasurer Don Polye’s Triumph Heritage Empowerment (THE) Party, told reporters at the recent opening of the hospital that the company had been involved in several major projects throughout Kandep, Enga, the Highlands and the country since 1998.

The new Kandep Rural Hospital built built by Neno Construction.-Pictures by MALUM NALU

Kurai (right) showing visitors around the new Kandep Rural Hospital that his company built.

This has led to accusations from political opponents that Polye is favoring Kurai, an Engan from Wabag, when it comes to awarding of contracts.

Kurai said his other company, Kay Star, had been involved in several major road projects throughout the Highlands since 2006 and was starting on a new contract from 9-Mile outside Port Moresby to Brown River.

“Neno was established in 1998,” he said.

“I’ve done over 1,500 projects around the Highland.

“I’m in charge of building all the Treasury buildings in the Highlands.

“I’ve done a lot of projects in Kandep.

“All the classrooms I’ve built, all the teachers’ houses I’ve built.

“I built the hospital at Sopas (outside Wabag) which was burned down during a tribal fight.”

Kurai said Kay Star was involved in several road projects linking Kandep including the Kandep-Mendi Road.

“Kay Star was established in 2006,” he said.

“I’ve been awarded the contract for 9-Mile to Brown River.

“Moving to Port Moresby is a big thing for Kay Star.

“Currently, I’m building the Wabag to Wapenamenda Highway.

“Sealing and upgrading, everything I’m doing.”