11 October 2010
For immediate release
New Sewage Treatment Plant improves living conditions
The Australian Government, through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Defence Cooperation Program, has constructed a new Sewage Treatment Plant at Goldie River Training Depot (GRTD) outside Port Moresby.
Australia High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea (PNG), Ian Kemish AM, and Commander PNG Defence Force, Brigadier General Francis Agwi, officially opened the sewage treatment plant which is the last in a five-year Barracks Redevelopment Program across PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) establishments.
The Barracks Redevelopment Program has also repaired water and sewerage infrastructure at Taurama Barracks, Murray Barracks, Moem Barracks and GRTD.
Mr Kemish said that the program has improved the living conditions of PNGDF soldiers and their families, by repairing water supplies and sewerage systems across the barracks and renovating bathrooms and laundries in married quarters.
“Importantly, the sewage treatment plant at GRTD also benefits the surrounding local community as it ensures that the waste water leaving the barracks is clean and safe,” he said.
PNGDF Brigadier General Francis Agwi on behalf of the PNG Government thanked the Australian Government and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for the project.
He said that the project has been planned for a long time and thanks to the Australian Government and ADF, the environmentally-friendly sewage treatment plant is now a reality.
The Australian Army's 19th Chief Engineer Works contracted Hebou Constructions (PNG) Limited and Lohberger Engineering Limited to undertake the construction of the sewage treatment plant and the repairs to the pumping system, with technical assistance by the PNG Defence Force engineers.
The treatment plant uses technology suitable to PNG conditions and relies on sunlight and wind to treat the waste water over a period of around 45 days. This simple, low maintenance system is intended to reduce the maintenance burden on the PNGDF. The sewage ponds only need cleaning out once every 5 years and the waste material is then safe and can be used on local food gardens and playing fields.
The total project cost was K4.5million under the Papua New Guinea-Australia Defence Cooperation Program.
The Australian Government, through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Defence Cooperation Program, is committed to continuing to assist with the redevelopment of the PNGDF's barracks infrastructure and is working in partnership with the PNGDF to develop a future infrastructure support program.