Western gets K59m road

 By FIDELIS SUKINA

Two major development areas in the Middle Fly district of Western will now have a road linked to them to enable access  to services  and stimulate economic activities.

The road, funded by the people of the Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) areas, will be built between Aiambak and Lake Murray. 

Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) facilitated the funding and design of the 50km road costing K59.9 million.  

Women’s representative of the Middle Fly Charlotte Matthew said women would benefit from the road by accessing markets and health services and it would be an avenue for small scale business as well.

Lake Murray LLG president Sep Galeva said the project would bring long-tern development and benefits to future generations.

“In the past the logging company got logs and promised a proper road but that never happened,” he said.

“We must not see it as a short-term thing, this will be a long-term project which the community will be sustained from and it is for us and our future generations.”

Western Governor Ati Wobiro said the road would bring a lot of good things to the area and made a commitment to fund its extension from Lake Marry to Kiunga.

 “This is the road that will change Western province, solve a lot of our problems and will be constructed to the highest possible level that will last long and we are committed to link the road further to Kiunga,” Wobiro said.

The road will be constructed by Starwest Construction Ltd.

The company’s project manager Stuart Barwick said the project will take two years.