NAC going ahead with eviction

CONSTRUCTION of buildings near airports and airport boundaries is illegal, the National Airports Corporation (NAC) says.
NAC managing director and chief executive officer Rex Kiponge said the eviction of tenants on portion 2965, declared aerodrome land near Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby, would go ahead.
“The public is hereby advised that in May and October, the NAC published an article in both dailies titled ‘Illegal encroachment on aerodrome land eviction’ specifically encompassing Port Moresby Jackson International Airport and its boundary – portion 2956 (consolidation of portions 2437 and 1229) is declared aerodrome, gazetted under G71 of April 2010,” he claimed.
According to a public notice published this year, companies and individuals who are occupying pieces of land within portion 2965 were advised that the NAC would be conducting investigations to verify the legality of their occupancies.
The notice stated that it had come to NAC’s attention that these were members of the public occupying portions of land within certain declared aerodromes in PNG without appropriate Government-approved licences and permits from the NAC.
“All declared aerodromes are the private property of the NAC, therefore, the NAC reserves the right to evict and repossess portions of land within aerodromes from individuals who fail to comply with the requirements of the Aerodrome (business concessions) Act 2000 or, are illegally occupying or, squatting within declared aerodromes,” Kiponge said.
“The NAC’s core aviation activities are aligned with the Government’s aspiration to develop and implement strategic aviation asset base to stimulate economic growth and benefit the people of PNG who heavily rely on air transport sector and the aviation industry.”
Kiponge said the NAC was working closely with the Department of Lands and Physical Planning to ensure 22 national airports declared aerodromes.