Terminal lifts West Sepik

COVER STORY

By PETER ESILA
WEST Sepik people and their visitors can now enjoy their modern airport terminal.
Vanimo, the capital of West Sepik has beautiful beaches and coastlines that surround the airport; there’s Dali beach on the east and Dasi beach on the west.
The new terminal adds to the beauty of the town and the opportunities available.
As the National Airports Corporation (NAC) acting chairman Rowland Abaijah puts it: “You have beautiful beaches and surfing spots here in West Sepik, you have trade activities happening at the border at Batas, you have vanilla farmers coming in from East Sepik via the road link to sell their vanilla to the Indonesians. This new modern airport that we have delivered here in Vanimo now supports you in taking those opportunities further.”
The K28.8 million terminal building is already a standout infrastructure in the small border township.
The total airport upgrade cost K70.1 million and was funded by the Government of PNG and the Asian Development Bank.
NAC managing director and chief executive officer Rex Kiponge urged the people of West Sepik to have pride in their new terminal.
NAC in partnership with the West Sepik Provincial Government hosted the opening ceremony in Vanimo on Monday.
The programme was opened by a word of prayer at Independence Oval just a stone’s throw away from the airport. This was followed by students from my former school Vanimo Primary School singing the national anthem and reciting the national pledged along with students from the Vanimo Secondary School.
Abaijah said the people of West Sepik deserved an improved and better airport infrastructure and services that were safe and secure and in compliance to PNG and international civil aviation standards.
“It is my pleasure to be part of this grand opening of the new terminal building for Vanimo Airport and other associated works. This project represents a significant investment for our people in the Sandaun Province and Papua New Guinea,” he said.

“On behalf of the NAC board and management, I would like to say that I am very proud and impressed with the delivery of the Vanimo Airport upgrade project, particularly the completion of the new terminal building.
“NAC is successfully delivering the development aspirations of the National Government which are captured in the National Transport Plan (NTP), the Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) and the Vision 2050.
“Under the NAC Strategic Plan 2020 to 2030, Vanimo Airport is categorised as a border and community service hub along with nine other airports. These are airports located in border provinces and in remote parts of PNG where there is less economic activities in the province.
“Access to basic government services is also limited due to the geographical conditions. The potential income for these airports is often in-sufficient to sustain their operations and may require external support,” Abaijah said.
“Despite these challenges, NAC is committed to fulfilling its community social obligation (CSO) to enable better air traffic movement necessary to support socio and economic developments for our people. Population growth, demand for travel and the growth in economic activities are some of the influential factors determining the size and type of Airport Infrastructure we build.
“Therefore our answers to why we are having this massive investment here in your province is firstly our people here in West Sepik deserve improved and better airport infrastructure and services that are safe and secure and are in compliance to PNG and international civil aviation standards. That’s what we have achieved here at Vanimo Airport through Civil Aviation Development Investment Programme (Cadip).
“Secondly in line with Government plans and aspirations, airports are economic enablers. Airports play a vital role in facilitating economic growth in regions that are less connected and still developing.
“NAC is mindful of the economic developments taking place here in West Sepik and elsewhere around our beautiful country. Our strategic plans are aligned with the Government’s Plans and Vision to ensure that the airport infrastructure and services are contributing to the economic and social development of our provinces and our national economy.
“I’d like to highlight the significance of the support provided by the Sandaun Provincial Government over the past years in supporting operational costs at Vanimo Airport.
“Vanimo Airport is currently a less busy hub that is currently not generating enough revenue to sustain itself. NAC uses revenue generated from the larger busier airports to support operations at Vanimo and other smaller hubs.
“The support that the Sandaun Provincial Government is providing in terms of subsidising some of the operational costs here at Vanimo Airport is commendable and it displays the true meaning of a provincial Government taking ownership of this important infrastructure and service for the people of West Sepik.
“When we say taking ownership, we are not talking about you taking over the airport and taking it away from NAC, but we are talking about supporting NAC as the airport custodian to subsidise operational costs so that the airport continues to provide and maintain the best infrastructure and services for our people.

“I am told that Sandaun Provincial Government and Administration have by far been the best province who have demonstrated this support compared to the other provinces. And this is the kind of support NAC hopes can also be received from other provinces.
“I also would like to acknowledge the support and partnership we have with the Department of Defence (PNGDF) which have seen the PNGDF transferring a portion of their land to NAC to build the new terminal. In exchange NAC had supported them in refurbishing facilities at their Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Vanimo to the value of K3 million. Such partnership and support are important for effective service delivery and I’d like to acknowledge the PNGDF for this.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the National Government both past and present for its foresight and continued investment in the air transport sector through Cadip-1 and now with Cadip-2.
“This massive investment has seen positive transformation of our national airports country-wide.
“I would also like to acknowledge development partner, Asian Development Bank without whose support we would not be seeing the developments we are seeing and experiencing at our airports.
“I’d like to acknowledge the contractor, China Railway Construction Engineering Group Ltd (CRCEG) for an impressive job on the new terminal and the entire Vanimo Airport redevelopment project.
“Congratulations to our team at Cadip, Sandaun Provincial Government, subcontractors and everyone who had a hand directly and indirectly in contributing to the successful delivery of this project here at Vanimo, West Sepik,” he said.