District opens K54 million 38km road

A NEW 38.6 km road has been completed and opened in the Namatanai district, New Ireland.
Located in the Matalai local level government (LLG), the road starts at Rativis and ends at Porpop.
Governor Sir Julius Chan was welcomed to Kudukudu village on Wednesday.
He was accompanied by Works Department manager Solomon Pela, contractor PNGSJC, 60 delegates from the LLG taking part in the province’s community awareness programme, representative of the Lihir Landowners Association Clement Moson and the local community.
Pela said the project took five years to complete at a cost of K54.2 million.
“The work was done in stages, every 5-6 km cost K5 million,” he said.
“Matalai LLG you are so fortunate, your government has invested K54.2 million on you.
“That is an unprecedented investment. It’s a milestone achievement.
“You cannot take things for granted. The fact is most of your big impact projects in the province are not funded by the national government but through your province’s own internal revenue, through your royalties from Lihir gold mine,” he said.
Local leader Robin Pitili said before the road upgrade, it was tough and impassable, with vehicles travelling over rivers without bridges.
“We are ready to get ourselves buses, to service the people and to bring all sorts of development to the LLG,” he said.
Sir Julius acknowledged Namatanai Open MP’s recent announcement that he would fix the collapsed Punam Bridge by December.