Plans to export PNG water to Australia

National, Normal

ANOTHER multi-million kina project, involving the development of natural resources, is planned for Southern Highlands province – thanks to the abundance of pristine clean waters in the Imbonggu district.
The water is to be piped from the Highlands of Papua New Guinea to Australia.
An Australian company based in Cairns, Might & Power Limited, is waiting for the PNG Government to finalise arrangements on its part for the signing of the agreement to proceed.
The company will carry out a K30 million feasibility study, which is jointly funded by the company, the Queensland state and Australian federal governments.
This project will equal the PNG LNG project and in the long term,  surpass the foreign exchange earnings for PNG as well as massive benefits directly and indirectly for the people of Imbonggu, Nipa -Kutubu and Kagua-Erave districts.
The project will also complement the efforts of the Southern Highlands provincial government to relocate the current Mendi airport to Oloma in the Yariya area of Imbonggu electorate to cater for the increase of movements in the area with a number of big projects undertaken in the area, and also pave way for the use of bigger planes.
Initially it was planned that the fresh water would be piped from Yariya, covering a distance of 3,500km to Queensland, Australia, through the Gulf of Papua to supply parts of Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.
Media reports in Australia stated  that it has received support from the federal and state governments and others sectors.
It is proposed that water from Angura, Mendi, Nembi and Wara Lai rivers would be piped to the central system at Yariya, from which water will flow to Australia.
A National Executive Council submission to this effect was jointly sponsored by Deputy Prime Minister Sir Puka Temu and Environment and Conservation Minister Benny Allan and was approved early this year.