Naru queries Lae land rezoning

 By MARGARET TALINGAPUA

MOROBE Governor Kelly Naru has questioned the rezoning of land on which the old Lae airport is situated.

He said the piece of land (Portion 375 Allotment 7) was for the construction of a new Lae court complex to be built by the Judiciary Services.

But the Lands Department, through its land allocation section, rezoned the land for commercial use and gave it to a private business entity.

Naru said the rezoning of the land contradicted the town planning prescribed in land zoning policy.

“Serious planning and discussions have been held by the judiciary and Morobe provincial government to develop that land with the judiciary seeking a certificate of authorisation to occupy the land,” Naru said. 

Naru said during the swearing in of the Morobe Lands Board last year, Minister for Lands Benny Allen and Secretary Romily Kila-Pat said no land dealings in Morobe was to take place without the approval, screening and recommendation of that board.

Naru said in Parliament on Wednesday the judiciary had written to the Minister for Lands about it.

Allen said he did not have information on the piece of land and would find out more.

 “I will look through the merit of the judiciary’s appeal and make a decision on it. 

“If it means cancelling the commercial title, I will do it for the interest of the people and state,” Allen said.