NHC to start huge housing project

 By MALUM NALU
THE National Housing Corporation has started the process of building 40,000 houses in Port Moresby to address the massive housing problem in the city.
NHC managing director and chairman of the National Housing Estate Ltd John Dege launched the project at Duran Farm at Eight-Mile outside Port Moresby yesterday.
He announced that the Department of National Planning had allocated K7 million to start the project.
The NHC has been able to secure two urban development leases at Duran Farm and one at the back of the National Research Institute in Waigani.
“Housing in a basic human need,” Dege said.
“Regardless of who we are, we need houses, we need shelter for our families.
“If this is a housing development that is sponsored by agencies of government, I think we should all cooperate.
“Duran Farm is an impact project. Duran Farm has been speculated by many agencies of government.
“It’s been 10 years since Duran Farm came up for discussion. Only in 2013 were we given the okay by the Minister for Lands, Secretary for Lands, and director for State Land Terry Wanga.
“With their support and cooperation, we were able to secure Duran Farm and various other urban development leases.”
He said Duran Farm would be developed in stages.
“Stage One commences today. We will have bulldozers and heavy equipment come in and undertake the civil component of the project,” he said.
“The rest will follow. We encourage community participation in this project.”
Dege said foreigners were grabbing land all over the country.
“Land grabbing is synonymous with our alien friends,” he said.