K46.6m budget for Morobe

By PISAI GUMAR
THE Morobe government yesterday handed down a K46.6 million budget for 2017 focusing on existing and new projects.
The main projects include infrastructure maintenance and strategic roads (K14.1m), Lae city roads cleaning (K7.5m), economic impact projects (K4m), tertiary scholarships (K4m), church partnership (K4m), new high  schools at Wantoat, Boana, Waria (K1.5m), flexible open distance learning (K1.5m), Tutumang redevelopment (K1m), medevac (K3m), 2017 election assistance (K1m), four  community health posts (K1.2m), Lae Port bypass road (K1m), Lae main market (K1m) and Mare bridge (K1m).
Governor Kelly Naru said some of the projects in the province would be co-funded by the Government and donor agencies.
Naru said the Morobe government was keen on partnering with the private sector and landowners through its business arm – the Kumgie and Morobe Sustainable Development Limited.
He said revenue would be generated from the Wafi-Golpu gold project, Ramu Two hydro-power project, Wagang Fisheries wharf, Javani industrial park, two additional fisheries project in Malahang and Nadzab airport land development.
He acknowledged the Government’s contributions in developing the second phase of the Lae Port project, Lae city roads and various districts roads, Lae-Nadzab four-lane highway, Yalu industrial park, Wagang fisheries and Voco point wharf development.
He thanked the Japan International Cooperation Agency for its plans to upgrade Nadzab airport, Lae-Nadzab urban development plan 2016-2025 and the Lae wharf bypass.
Naru thanked Australia for the redevelopment of Angau Memorial Hospital, Lae School of Nursing, upgrading of five district hospitals and co-funding of four community health posts in partnership with the Asian Development Bank.