I REFER to the building boom currently experienced in PNG and some issues involved.
This is the most significant building boom that has been experienced since independence in all areas, including industrial, residential and commercial projects.
There are numerous projects (both legal and illegal) that are mushrooming, especially in Port Moresby, Lae and in some towns and rural outposts. This is likely to continue in the medium term.
The biggest challenge now faced by the industry and stakeholders is how to ensure the quality of buildings and infrastructure that are being constructed.
The buildings boards and local town authorities are either not performing and/or lack the capacity to police and stop unauthorised buildings being constructed.
This has given rise to many illegal buildings that have no proper planning approvals. This is detrimental to public health, safety and raises other urban environmental issues such as pollution.
The Government and relevant agencies should consider enacting a “Building & Infrastructure Authority” to control construction activities in PNG just as it has done for other sectors (eg mining).
This authority should integrate all existing agencies and be mandated to initiate the Government policy on “public housing” – an an area that has been discussed time and time again by consecutive governments without any concrete results.
If the current situation is allowed to persist, we will eventually have poor infrastructure to accommodate activities of those who fall between the “middle and rural class” spectrum of our society.

Frederick Kila
Vice-president PNG Institute of Building