Agreement signed to begin work

DEPARTMENT of Works (DOW) and the Bulolo development authority (BDDA) in Morobe have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to begin work on the Sim-Bapi road in Garaina next month.
The agreement was signed on March 28 with construction expected to cost K5 million.
The authority engaged the Works Department for major upgrading work on the pine top back road from Bulolo and Wau to enable commuters and businesses access to Lae.
Bulolo MP Sam Basil said the road would link the existing road from Garaina station to Garasa, Asama and Kira station in Sohe in neighbouring Northern, including upper Waria valley and lower Waria.
He said funding was allocated in the 2020 budget and DOW was engaged as the BDDA works unit was occupied maintaining other roads within its six local level government (LLG) areas.
Basil said the district authority would seek the help of PNG Defence Force engineers for civil works.
Basil announced the project in the presence of provincial works manager Samson Apai and local Waria and Biaru leaders Toki Mambere and Steven Watta on Tuesday.
“The Sim-Bapi road is the missing link into Waria valley which Morobe and BDDA tried to construct in order to revive production of the famous Garaina tea.”
He said the lack of a road link meant the area could not be developed, adding that it was a five-day walk from Waria to Wau.
Basil said there would be no compensation paid to landowners.