21 January 2015
Helping to keep PNG transport on the move
The Australian High Commission has announced the commencement of the second phase of the Papua New Guinea – Australia Transport Sector Support Program.
The second phase of the program will, over the next five years, continue the Australian Government’s long-term commitment to support the Government of PNG to achieve a well-maintained transport infrastructure network. The main activities in the second phase of the program will focus on assisting PNG to deliver rehabilitation of major national highways and improve safety and security standards in the aviation and maritime sectors.
The Australian High Commissioner HE Ms Deborah Stokes welcomed the commencement of the second phase of the Transport Sector Support Program. “The new investment will focus on projects that increase the pace of upgrading more major roads to a good condition. We will also work with partner transport agencies to remove service delivery bottlenecks and support improved quality of road works and other essential transport services,” Ms Stokes said.
In welcoming the commencement of TSSP Phase Two, Secretary of the Department of Transport, Mr Roy Mumu OBE said, “Australia is a long-term partner of PNG, and we have been working together over many years to improve transport infrastructure. The Transport Sector Support Program will be guided by the priorities contained in PNG’s National Transport Strategy and assist in the implementation of the strategy’s actions to address the challenges in the transport sector.”
The Transport Sector Support Program works closely with PNG land, maritime and aviation transport agencies to develop a safe, reliable transport system which enables economic and social development in PNG.
Australia’s financial support provided to PNG through Phase One of the Transport Sector Support Program totalled PGK 950 million over the period 2007-14. This included delivering road maintenance projects in PNG to the value of more than PGK700 million, PGK121 million of which was spent on road maintenance activities in Bougainville. Expenditure supporting projects in the aviation and maritime sector totalled PGK45 million and included vital projects for baggage handling security and air traffic control technology.
If all road kilometres sections worked on over this period were placed end-to-end, they would stretch over 17,500kms. This is an equivalent distance to travelling from Port Moresby to Canberra six times; or the total length of PNG’s coastline.
The management of the second phase of TSSP was awarded to SMEC International. The management contract value is AUD 149.7 million (equivalent to approx. PGK319.6 million). SMEC International will be responsible for administering the program, including recruitment and performance management of project activities. SMEC International will also provide financial and procurement oversight for all projects and ensure implementation is in accordance with the Joint statement on zero tolerance to fraud in Australia’s aid program in PNG.