Incomplete airport project angers local authority boss

By JACOB POK
A K2.5 million allocated by the Southern Highlands provincial government to relocate the Mendi airport has
gone to waste as there is nothing to show for it on the ground, says Oloama Airport Authority Chairman, Tonny Undi.
He said another K90 million promised by the state for the same project was yet to be delivered. Plans to relocate Mendi airport to Oloama in the Imbonggu district, since 2009, had been left incomplete.
“Landowners are now seeking compensation for environmental damage caused as a result of incomplete work on the proposed airport at Oloama,” he said.
Undi said feasibility study, survey and planning were carried out at a cost of K2.5 million under the supervision of  Imbonggu MP Francis Awesa and construction work carried out but the work was left incomplete due to funding shortage.
He said the government during the umbrella benefit sharing agreement meeting with LNG project landowners in Kokopo in 2009 promised K90 million to complete the project but failed to honour its commitment.
“Mendi is the capital of Southern Highlands where the multi-billion kina PNG LNG gas projects sits and it is a disgrace if the airport is not upgraded to cater for regular flights.
“We, the landowners of Oloama want to know the cause of delay and call on the government to look into it,” he said.
He said Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and Awesa are leaders of Southern Highlands and should look into the needs of the province.
“Many Southern Highlanders have been victimised by criminals while travelling by road,” he said.
He said there were many armed hold-ups and rapes occurring along the highway and urged Southern Highlands leaders and the government to seriously look into the issue.