Palma visits proposed site of Chimbu’s new airport

KEROWAGI MP and Vice-Minister for Mining Bari Palma recently visited a proposed site for a new airport for Chimbu to be built at the Kup Catholic Mission station in Kerowagi.
Kundiawa Airport has closed several years ago.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has announced in Parliament that the new airport will be built in Kerowagi to serve Jiwaka and Chimbu.
The proposed site was suggested by the former Chimbu governor Noah Kool.
The Simbu government has spent over K4 million on feasibility and social impact studies on the proposed site.
According to consultant engineer Raymond Gemba Dewane, of the four preliminary locations identified for the airport, the University of Technology Geotech Engineering Department recommended and picked Kup valley as the ideal location.
Palma, executive director for Urbanisation Max Kep and his technical team visited Kerowagi to zone the district for physical development planning to create an economic hub.
“Feasibility studies have already been done on this very important project in Kerowagi and Chimbu as a whole,” Palma said.
“I am pursuing it with the national government and the National Airport Corporation.
The new airport will be centrally located to serve Chimbu and Jiwaka.
“A new bridge will also be built over the Waghi River, a five-minute drive from the Highlands Highway directly connected to the new proposed airport.”
Palma said feasibility studies, detail design, costing of the project, economic and social impact assessment had been submitted to the Planning Department for funding through its Public Investment Programme.