UPDATE DEVELOPMENTS

Development News

New Afio Wharf (Matangasi) Development

After signing of the contract with the Land Acquisition Officer and the Land Surveyors, acquisition and survey work started.  A three months notice – to 26 August) was lodged and field work was completed in July.  Other technical work to follow include property valuation and engineering assessment and scoping before actual designing and costing.  However, these components of the process will take some time.

Liwe IP 

Like The new Afio wharf site, the SMC Office is progressing similar work on Liwe IP. As is already well known, this particular project is not featured in the SI national development program because of the ongoing claims that the project is being funded under Israeli assistance to Malaita Province. Nevertheless, Hon Rick N Hou has initiated the acquisition of the land parcels as the SMC contribution towards this important proposal. He said when the acquisition and registration of those land parcels is completed, he would then hand them over to the land owners. after that it would be up to the Liwe Land Trust Board, Malaita Chazon Development Authority and the Malaita Provincial Government to liaise with the State of Israel as to how Liwe IP project will proceed.    

In March Hon R Hou had a meeting with the Liwe Land Trust Board – primarily to get an update on the land acquisition process and other outstanding work on that project.  It appeared that the land acquisition of Liwe land has to be redone again because previous work organized by the Malaita Chazon Authority was incomplete.  In order to sort that out, and with the aim to have the land properly acquired, Hon R Hou signed an agreement of engagement with the Land Acquisition Officer and the surveyor to complete the work in 2013. While this is an important project for the constituency, it is not featured in the national government development plans.

Afio Economic Growth Centre (EGC)

Engineering assessments and designing of the EGC and Township remain to be done. Road construction at Afio should begin before end of the year.   Hon R N Hou has had numerous discussions with NRD and has submitted a number of proposals on the project including the plan to have an on-site project office for this project.  However, this is still under consideration by the Ministry for Rural Development (MRD). In light of the newly recruited Directors in the Ministry, project management functions may be carried out directly from head quarters.  Discussions with PS & Director of the MRD on EGC work program and activities continues. 

Early in January 2013 a chiefs meeting convened by Hon R N Hou which was attended by chiefs, community leaders and representatives of Hoasitei Mwane, Korutalau Mweimwei, Korutalau Peine, Iolai Ramo and Kalapea land owning groups. As part of the Afio EGC, this meeting was primarily to reach agreement on an access road to the interior communities.  Also in January another meeting with Matangasi Community Leaders and representatives of landowning groups met in Matangasi where there was unanimous agreement on the proposal to locate the new Afio Wharf at Matangasi.  

Following the chiefs meeting in January, with coordination by Hon R N Hou MP, the appointed Task Force Group on the interior road access had a series of meetings in Honiara with Mr. S Lee of the Pacific Venture Group.  Mr. Lee acknowledged the Task Force for their partnership in this important project and for their ground work in reaching agreement with land owning groups in Hoasitei Mwane, Korutalau Mweimwei, Kalapea and Korutalau Peine.  Both sides agreed on several matters which form the basis for an MOU between the chiefs and Pacific Venture Ltd group. Work on this road has started with the aim to reach inland communities by the end of the year.

In March Hon R N Hou signed two contracts of engagement with the Land acquisition Officer and land surveyor for the acquisition of Matangasi and Liwe land sites.  The payment of this technical phase will be made by the SM Constituency Office.  This work expected to be completed with the handing over of perpetual estate titles to the respective land owning groups by the end of the year.  

During the quarter, the SMC Office submitted its program of activities for Afio EGC to Ministry of Rural Development for funding. The program includes land mobilization activities, land negotiations and technical work such as land acquisition, project administration and other related technical work.  

Parasi

Resumption of air services to Parasi is looking possible with the signing of the new MOU between the principal land owning groups in May. Led by Mr. C Honiola and Mr. Abraham Hauiasi this low key ceremony was a very important milestone towards resumption of air services.