K6.4 million for Kavieng Airport

By ANGELINE KARIUS
KAVIENG airport will undergo a new K6.48 million fencing project to be made possible by an agreement between the National Airports Corporation and Betafence, a Belgian company.
The two signed the deal last week which Department of National Planning and Monitoring acting secretary Ruby Zarriga and Air Niugini’s Wasantha Kumarasiri attended.
Corporation managing director Joseph Kintau said the project was part of the national government’s commitment to upgrade and secure all aviation facilities under the US$640 million (K1.6 billion) loan from the Asian Development Bank.
The airport upgrade is to be implemented over the next nine years.
He said it aimed at upgrading aviation services, including fencing, air nautical, air traffic facilities and building capacity with the aviation regulated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
“Airport fencing, pavement upgrading and replacing fire equipment will immediately need upgrading to ensure safety,” he said.
CASA chief executive officer and director Wilson Sagati said safety was paramount in all airports.
“Intrusion onto the runway by people and animals poses a danger to flights into the area,” he said.
“What we want to see is for the airline operators to operate in a safe environment.”
Corporation programme director Manuai Kametan said the international-based contractor Betafence won a public bidding process.
“We intend to roll out the programme to other major provincial airports.
“Unlike any fencing structures in PNG, this is of good quality and will last at least 15 years.”
It is understood other airports will undergo similar work in the second phase including Goroka, Wewak, Hoskins in West New Britain and Gurney in Milne Bay.
They will be followed by Nadzab (Lae), Girua (Northern), Momote (Manus), Chimbu, Buka and Wapenamanda (Enga).  
Betafence sales director Asia Frederik De Knijf said, “We believe it is important to step up aviation in PNG.”
Betafence specialises in perimeter security and operates in 30 countries and selling its products to 100 countries. 
It has worked at international airports like London’s Heathrow, Sydney, Hong Kong, and Beijing.