NCDC removing fences

By GYNNIE KERO
ALL Colorbond or sheet metal panels and razor-wire fences at properties in Port Moresby will be removed, says city manager Bernard Kipit.
The National Capital District Commission resumed the enforcement of its fencing policy this month.
It sets out specific controls to be applied to fencing in Port Moresby which are considered by the NCD Physical Planning Board.
The policy is to ensure fences “contribute positively to the public domain, complement and conserve the visual character of the street and neighbourhood while providing security for the property owners and responds to the architectural character of the building that they front”.
It requires residents, tenants and landlords to have the fences facing public roads changed to “spiked” fences.
Kipit told The National yesterday that Colorbond fences would be removed.
Kipit said sheets and razor wires would be removed over time because they painted a “negative image” of the city.
The NCDC team is going around the city replacing Colorbond sheets and razor wires with wire-mesh fencing which are only temporary.
Kipit suggested to property owners to come up with their own fence designs other than Colorbond or razor wires.
“It’s the responsibility of property owners to replace their fences now that Colorbond or razor wire fences became outlawed in March this year,” he said. In 2015, the NCDC’s attempts to remove razor wires above fences around properties in Port Moresby and received a lot of resistance from businesshouses and home owners.
Many feared their homes and properties would be vulnerable to criminals if the barbed wires were removed.
Security fencing with razor barbed wire is a consequence of the high rate of crime in this city but Kipit said there were other fencing options such electric fences.