Road access to project closed over land row

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By GYNNIE KERO
AN access road to the K7 million housing project at the Durand Farm in Port Moresby was closed yesterday following a row over the land ownership.
The Durand Farm project is part of the National Housing Corporation’s plan to address the shortage of housing for public servants and residents in the city.
But Durand Farm project’s general manager John Kume told The National yesterday another company had moved in to claim the piece of land adjacent to the project site.
Kume said it took only three days for that company to obtain the title to the portion of land nearby.
Because of that, he said the access road to the Durand farm project site would be temporarily closed.
It is understood that Housing Minister Paul Isikiel and Minister for Lands Benny Allen discussed the matter yesterday. But both could not be reached for a comment.
A source said the land belonged to the State.
Kume said a Government surveyor arrived on August 6 to survey the front (Durham Farm project) access road.
“I asked him what he was surveying. He said they were just surveying the road,” Kume said.
“To get a title, you have to go through a rigorous process. When we (Durand) moved in, we identified it as our reserve land. We are building houses for Papua New Guineans and cannot let someone walk over us to get the land. We are putting a temporary ban (on the access to it).”