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Lae settlers face relocation move
By JASON SOM KAUT
A RESETTLEMENT census and market survey will be carried out to prepare
for the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded main port redevelopment
project in Lae.
This will ensure settlers are properly accounted for, identified and
adequately compensated during resettlement.
The survey will collect data from the people currently living in the
Maus-Markham, Wara Tais and Sodas settlements near the vicinity of the
agreed wharf extension area and those that are trading at the (informal)
market at the Labu canoe landing area.
This was revealed by Allan McLay, president of the Lae Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (Lae CCI).
Mr McLay said that
the settlers would be identified and relocated to blocks of land for
resettlement.
He said dialogue was on-going with the Lahi and Labu landowners on
various land options that had been identified for the resettlement but a
site is yet to be confirmed.
The port project is a US$50 million Asian Development Bank (ADB) project
commissioned by the PNG Government through the PNG Ports Corp Ltd.
Consisting of two phases, Phase 1 will cover the feasibility study which
includes the collection of raw data through the census-survey and
carrying out of engineering studies.
“Preparations are well underway, for this component which will look at
tidal movements, effects
of dredging, environmental issues and will also include an economic
study,” Mr McLay said.
Phase 2 will cover the actual project and will see plan being presented
to the Government for final approval prior to public tenders for the
project’s various components.
Settlers in the area are currently squatting on Government land (portion
508, formerly portion 491) and a survey will be carried out to collect
basic information to ensure that everybody is accounted for and properly
identified for compensation purposes.
Basic data will be collected from those trading at the informal (Aigris)
market that has developed over time at the Labu canoe landing area using
the market/trade survey.
 
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