MORESBY South MP and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Justin Tkatchenko, has welcomed the successful reclamation of the Two Mile Hill Park Reserve land, announcing that the site has now been officially titled to the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) for public and recreational use.
In a media statement issued, Tkatchenko said the Department of Lands and Physical Planning had completed a thorough investigation into the ownership of the land before issuing a State title to NCDC, securing its future as a public recreational area.
The reserve includes Bomai Oval, named in honour of the late community leader Simon Bomai. According to Tkatchenko, the land had previously been acquired without proper consent and outside established legal processes.
“For many years we have fought to reclaim this land, which was illegally allocated to a Papua New Guinean individual for personal gain through improper means,” he said.
“We are very happy and satisfied that the Department of Lands, under Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Lands John Rosso, has now awarded the title for public use.”
Tkatchenko thanked NCD Governor Powes Parkop, City Manager Ravu Frank, and the NCDC management team for pursuing the matter through the appropriate legal channels and ensuring the land was returned to public ownership.
“It’s a win for the public and for the city to have this land back for recreational use,” he said. “We in Moresby South will ensure the land is properly utilised now and into the future for our people.”
The Minister said the outcome sends a strong message against illegal land grabbing and reaffirmed his commitment to protecting public land throughout the electorate.
“The days of illegal land grabbing will now be over as we will not give up on ensuring all land in the Moresby South electorate is correctly and properly allocated,” he said.
Tkatchenko noted that illegal occupation and acquisition of public land remains one of the biggest challenges facing the electorate, affecting both residents and community spaces.
“As the Member for Moresby South, one of the biggest issues I face is eviction and illegal land grabbing of public and open spaces by selfish and greedy individuals, whether Papua New Guineans or foreigners,” he said.
“For me, it is about ensuring that we secure our land for the good of our people.”
He said Moresby South Electorate would continue working closely with NCDC and relevant authorities to recover public recreational land that had been unlawfully acquired and to safeguard State land for future generations.
“All illegally acquired State land will be pursued and taken back,” Tkatchenko said.