MEMBER for Namatanai and Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation, Walter Schnaubelt says the deteriorated West Coast Sentral road in his district is not forgotten.
“I have not forgotten West Coast Sentral and I’m fully committed to getting the road back on track because I understand how critical infrastructure impacts community well-being and economic development,” he told residents along the road during his recent electoral visit.
Schnaubelt said work has already begun with a reputable surveyor engaged by the Namatanai District Development Authority (NDDA).
He said the surveyor is currently on the ground conducting survey engineering exercise on the West Coast road.
“We’ve been waiting for so long for the West Coast road to happen, and the survey engineering exercise is very important before any construction work to begin,” Minister Schnaubelt said.
The West Coast road is a significant infrastructure project aimed at enhancing transportation and connectivity for the local communities.
This road stretches approximately 190 kilometres from Para Junction through Sentral Niu Ailan to Burukalai, providing a vital link for the people and facilitating access to essential services and markets.
The scope and design work according to the MP cost K3.4 million which will be counterpart funded by the Namatanai DDA (40%), Kavieng DDA (40%) and New Ireland Provincial Government (20%).
Namatanai district has paid K600, 000 already for the scope and design work which has commenced, and additional K500, 000 cheque is currently in the process of printing.
Minister Schnaubelt also revealed that under the ambitious ‘Connect PNG’ programme, K100 million has been secured for the West Coast road construction.
“This project is vital for our people that live on the west coast and we need to create that legacy.
“It will cost approximately K100m over five-year multi-tranche financing and we will be working with other donor and development partners to make this happen.”
Meanwhile, Schnaubelt who sympathised with his people of West Coast Sentral from wards 15 to 22 and the traveling public at large on the current deteriorated road conditions has put in place a plan to maintain the road and bridges.
“The road condition is not good; while waiting we need to do something immediately to address the deterioration of the road condition in each ward and Rural Road Maintenance project is the way to go.
“Under the Rural Road Maintenance project, the district will provide funding of K50, 000 each to ward contractors annually so that they can engage women and church groups, youths in each ward to participate in the upkeep of the West Coast road,” Schnaubelt said.
