More physical planners needed

 By HELEN TARAWA

PAPUA New Guinea needs more physical planners to guide and control developments of the nation, according to the Department of Lands and Physical Planning.

Chief Physical Planner Gerisoma James said there were not enough physical planners and there was a lack of funding for resources and capacity.

University of PNG students from the environmental Science and geology streams visited the department in Port Moresby this week.

James told them that the department was working towards establishing a physical planning association to have certified planners.

“Because of these problems, when we have plans, we invite urban planners and consultants from overseas and we are spending money outside, we don’t have our own planners,” he said.

“We have 10 economic corridors but the plans are shelved because we do not have funding, no Government support.

“That is why in terms of recognising the profession of physical planning we are considering establishing our association of physical planners.

“Once we have the association, we can have qualified practising physical planners to carry out plans.”

Quality control and standards officer Linus Billy said they planned to develop specific training processes in education institutions.

He said they were working with UPNG to have a physical planning programme at the university.