Relocation makes way for project

SETTLERS at Duran Farm along the 9-Mile-Gerehu Road in Port Moresby will be relocated from the state land to make way for a government housing project, acting Housing Corporation (NHC) managing director Elizabeth Bowada says
“We are in partnership with the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) to relocate seven families at 8-Mile to another state land just opposite the road,” she said.
“This is not an eviction exercise.
“It is a relocation exercise.
“All these families will be eligible to get land titles under this NCDC-NHC relocation programme
“The developer engaged with NHC is now in the process to develop that land at portion 528.
“I have already made awareness amongst the settlers about the relocation exercise between NHC and NCDC. They are well aware of this relocation programme.”
Bowada, in response to the settlers claiming that the developer was illegally evicting them, said: “All these settlers within portion 528 will be relocated to another area. Now the developer is clearing the area just to build a demonstration house to showcase what type of houses the developer will build for clients.”
Bowada said the relocation arrangement between NCDC and NHC was done before she took office as the acting MD.
She said they had a legal battle since 2018 with the developer but they now settled it because the government wanted to fast-track the project. “So a consent order from the National Court was entered on Feb 13 between NHC and the developer.
“So now the developer has 301 titles. And will built 301 allotments on portion 528.
“So we have settled it and the court has given a time frame for the developer to build houses in five years.”