Bridge parts ‘wasted’

 By JEFFREY ELAPA

MILLIONS of kina worth of parts for bridges and equipment have been left sitting idle and are rusting away at the Works Northern and Island regional headquarters in Lae since 2010.

The bridge parts, when assembled, would make up to about four standard bridges costing about K10 million while the total assets would cost more than tens of millions, according to Works engineers and staff in Lae.

Reports stated that the bridges and works equipment have been funded under the World Bank’s Yumi Yet bridge project and left idle by Mabey and Johnsons when they left after their contract was completed in 2010 but the final report is yet to be submitted.

It was revealed at there was a contract in place between the state and Mabey and Johnson for the use of the depot and the facilities in Lae.

However, the reports stated that the equipment and the bridge parts were later transferred to Structural Bridging Supplies (SBS) owned by Tom Higgins who is also believed to have left the country leaving the equipment and materials stored away in containers while others were stored away occupying almost three quarters of the Works depot in Lae, which is now a state property.

The report stated that the occupancy of the works yard by SBS was illegal as the company used the premises and the facilities without paying rent to the department.

It was also revealed that there was no lease agreement with SBS to use the yard after the contract of Mabey and Johnson expired in 2010 after using the depot since the Yumi Yet bridge programme came in existence in 2002.

A team of Works department and Works ministry officials from headquarters were dispatched to visit the depot after parliament raised questions about the parts sitting idle in Lae.

The team, lead by Works secretary (technical) Paul Nindivi found that almost K10 million of bridge parts that would be used to build four complete standard bridges were left idle while other equipment like excavators, semi trailer trucks, dump trucks, rollers and more than 30 containers fully of equipment and other essential bridging and works equipment that would cost more than another K10 million left were covered in bushes and rusting away.

The matter has also irked works officials in the province claiming that they have been handicapped as the entire depot has been by used by the equipment of Mabey and Johnson and SBS while essential equipment that could be used to serve the communities have been left idle.

The report will then be presented to Works Minister Francis Awesa for cabinet to deliberate on.