Report looks at impact of LNG project on housing

The latest volume of PNG National Research Institute’s publication, Spotlight, highlights the impact of the PNG LNG project on the cost of housing.
The paper emphasises the importance of considering the impacts of a development project on access to affordable housing in urban development planning.
It discusses the impact of the PNG LNG project on house sales and rent prices in Port Moresby and argues that it is necessary to consider the change in activities related to urban development.
It argues that house sales will be increased and rent prices will be reduced if more houses are built and trunk infrastructure and services are provided during periods of high economic activity, so that the supply of houses can match demand.
The findings revealed that housing supply did not match the demand and that there was a shortage of land with secure titles, that more houses were built in medium-income and high-income areas, and that the State was not prepared to manage the impacts of the LNG project.
It also found that house sales and rent prices decreased after the construction phase of the LNG project, however, the prices were still beyond the reach of most people in Port Moresby.