Nature park closed over land matters with UPNG

THE Port Moresby Nature Park will remain closed after the Waigani National Court adjourned yesterday a leave application by the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) over land matters.
Justice Gavara Nanu adjourned the leave application for judicial review of a compulsory land acquisition matter between UPNG and the State and others to Nov 19, after the court was told by the lawyer representing UPNG that an amended statement pursuant to the National Court Rules was filed recently and served so the defendants needed time to prepare for their responses.
An interim order that was granted by the court on Nov 5 and returnable today was also extended to Nov 19.
The interim order has stopped the Nature Park management, its staff or agents from running or operating the park pending determination of the leave application.
It has also stopped the defendants from removing or destroying any structure, fixtures, plants, trees, flowers or animals on the land.
The defendants were also prevented from registering the acquisition of the land described as Portion 1471 (now portion 4183) Granville, Port Moresby and further prevented from carrying out any developments on the subject land pending determination of the leave application.
UPNG acting as the plaintiff filed an application by way of an originating summons and a notice of motion on Oct 24 to seek leave to review a decision of the former Minister of Land and Physical Planning Justin Tkatchenko, made on May 24, to compulsorily acquire 30.013ha of UPNG’s land described as portion 1473 (now portion 4183), Granville, Port Moresby, known as Nature Park.