Schnaubelt rolls out K1.5mil worth of development projects

THE Namatanai district in New Ireland is set to see more development as MP Walter Schnaubelt rolls out K1.5 million worth of projects.
Schnaubelt started the rollout programme on Saturday with six wards in west coast Namatanai, with each ward receiving tools and materials that included ovens, roofing iron, single and household solar lights and livestock fencing wire.
The launch of the projects also coincided with the delivery of a ferry and two eight-tonne trucks which were part of the district development authority’s disbursal of funding and support for the projects.
Schnaubelt said the delivery of the ferry was to make travel along the St George Channel safe between Namatanai and Kokopo in East New Britain.
He said from the two trucks, one would serve as a transport link from the ferry base in Matakan, west coast Namatanai and the pickup point in Namatanai town on the east coast.
The other truck would serve as market truck for people in west coast Namatanai to access markets with their garden produce.
The delivery of the projects was hailed as the start of many initiatives to follow suit, according to Schnaubelt, who wants to change people’s livelihood in the district.
About 30 people per ward had household solar lights and hand-held solar lights.
A further 15 people received 18 sheets of roofing iron, six ovens were distributed to each ward while livestock (pig) fencing wire was distributed to 10 people in each ward.
Schnaubelt said it was all about improving the people’s wellbeing and helping them start small livestock and farming projects.
The MP said while he had been in the Opposition, he had received little support in district services improvement programme funding but since he had joined the Government ranks, he was able to get money for his district.
Namatanai district administrator Neville Tomon echoed similar sentiments in support of Schnaubelt’s development plans.
“What you have seen here today is the result of working together with the MP,” he said.