We wish to bring to the public’s attention the situation (The National, Feb 13) regarding Wewak’s perilious water supply.
The National’s journalist, Gabriel Fito, reported that Wewak’s main water supply pipe runs through an area of land (former road and road reserve) located opposite the old Wirui airstrip (adjacent to the Wewak district administration, Garamut Bakery, AOG church, Dieters Engineering, Wewak Guest House, Magistrates Residence and MAF), which was surveyed and subdivided into two lots – 434 and 435 and rezoned for commercial purposes.
What actually happened was that the National Physical Planning Board in Waigani was misled into believing that the land was lying idle and vacant.
The survey failed to point to the presence of our old main road and two major public utilities on the land so the board approved use of the land for operation of a service station and a vanilla and spice processing plant.
This whole process was approved without the prior knowledge of affected residents/leaseholders.
The Lands Secretary and Board was petitioned by affected neighbours, including the district administrator and the magistrate, but the boards response, after I personally presented a petition on behalf of all concerned parties, was “shut up” and “the file is closed” and “nobody should be against development in Wewak town”.
Wewak Water Board manager Patrick Jinimbo was quoted by Fito as asking: “How can I move in an excavator to work on the water pipe when there are defects?”
Likewise, how can Telikom technicians rectify any faults found in any section of the main telecommunications cable which also runs through the land?
Do the people of Wewak have to face a major water or communications crisis in future, due to the “gross negligence” of people who should know better?
It was a bit disconcerting to also get told by a certain senior policeman: “Don’t make any noise because you might get attacked and we won’t be in a position to assist you and your family because of the current lack of police logistics”.
Well sori tru because we were here first. Although a service station and vanilla factory is also welcomed, we wanted the base to stay and the land to be used for public recreational purposes to benefit the whole community.
The current predicament regarding the protection of State assets – land and public utilities – is actually covered for by a number of excellent laws so the solution is pure and simple.
The relevant laws are covered by the Physical Planning Act, the Land Act, the Survey Act and the Water and Sewerage Act.

Arrogant
Wewak.