Use proposed site for terminal

THE National government proposed section 8 allotment 16 for a new terminal site for Vanimo aerodrome in the 1970s.
This allotment is located between the Works Department and weather station in Vanimo.
During the same period (1970s) the Words Department executed the design and layout plan for this site. With the recent Vanimo city development plan proposed by the Sandaun Administration, this allotment was not captured for its original purpose. Instead this allotment was sub-divided for commercial and industrial purposes.
The National Airports Corporation awarded a contract to Chinese Railway Engineering to construct the extension of the airport and the new terminal in March this year.
Work on the extension of the airport is nearing completion, however the work on the new terminal building is yet to commence.
The site proposed for on the current site section 19, allotments 1-5 the area is insufficient for such a development. It only has an area of 3000m2 or 0.300 hectare.
The original proposed site section 8, allotment 16 is 37,000m2 or 3.700 hectare which is sufficient for such a development. I urge Sandaun leaders to convince the Lands Department to have this site re-allocated for its original purpose.

Willie Sangi
Works Department – Vanimo