Land secured to build new home for displaced settlers

FIFTY hectares of land in Moresby North-East has been secured to relocate displaced settlers of Works Compound and Garden Hill.
Minister for Housing and Urbanisation and Moresby North-East MP, John Kaupa, has already secured the 50ha of customary land.
Kaupa and Lands Department have confirmed the legitimate customary landowner and negotiations are underway for relocation of settlers.
“We have allocated some money for acquisition of the land during the last NCDC board meeting with Governor (Powes Parkop),” he said.
“By end of this month or next month, we will host launching of the resettlement project.”
Kaupa said the land at Works Compound and Garden Hill belonged to the State and settlers had been told to vacate.
“These areas at Works Compound and Garden Hill are State-owned and are in the vicinity of the city,” he said. “If the State wants any sort of development to take place, those who are now residing there will have no power to sue the State.”
Kaupa said Parkop, Moresby-South MP Justin Tkatchenko and himself “are working around the clock to secure a proper land for these settlers”.