By JOEL K ANDREW
THURSDAY 05th October marked a significant achievement for the National Housing Corporation (NHC) and Department of Housing on the outskirts of Port Moresby.
Recently appointed acting managing director of NHC Abel Toll and Housing Minister Kobby Bomareo hosted the Prime Minister James Marape and seven other parliamentarians to light up the Durand Farm project site in Port Moresby.
After a decade since the Durand Farm Project’s commencement in 2014, a fully packed audience comprising of local PNG citizens, NHC staff, contractors, government delegations, and police personnel witnessed the lighting up of this significant project.
Toll said housing is a critical issue in PNG that needs full government attention.
He said the national government has entrusted NHC by funding the construction of 2511 houses with K28.5m which will be delivered in six development stages and NHC is at the first stage of development.
Once completed, the project will transform into an urban township with its own complementary infrastructures like schools, churches, shopping malls, clinics, market and other amenities.
On the eve of the 48th Independence celebrations, Toll announced to the staff of NHC that finally PNG Power Limited and contractor Mapike Entreprise Limited had rolled out power pylons into stage one of the project site.
“It took me two weeks to light up the Durand farm project site after it was overlooked by contractors and previous management since 2014,” he said.
“Minister Bomareo and I made an oath after my appointment that Durand Farm Project will be a priority.
“Thus, we are true to our commitment and work has again been revived.
NHC Special Procurement Committee has awarded several contracts to local companies that will work with new administration’s mission and objectives to become the driving mechanisms of their development agendas on the Durand Farm Project and NHC Head quarter refurbishment Project.
After K2.1 million worth of projects were given to three contractors for the NHC refurbishment project, which had been delayed since 2021, Reminant AJ Group Ltd was awarded a K3.1m project to construct sewerage pipeline from Mcgregor Police Barracks to the main sewerage deposit outside Morata.
“As we await this project’s commencement, Water PNG has already connected main water pipes into stage one,” Toll said.
He acknowledged the support from key government agencies like National Planning, Finance and Treasury, Department of Works and stakeholders including NCDC, PNG Power Limited, and Water PNG Limited.
Toll also thanked Marape-Rosso government for a total PIP funding of K26m of which, K20m is for the Durand Farm Project.
Prime Minister Marape was impressed about the milestone achievement of NHC and commended the efforts of Toll and his team.
He requested a report detailing the performance of previous management and current contractors’ progress on the project.
Toll urged the five major contractors of Durand Farm Project to commence the construction of houses.
He said he expected five (5) houses; one each from all contractors by 31st December.
