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. 

ROAD NETWORK

Road Network

During the quarter Hon Rick Hou initiated discussions with the land owners on renovation work on the first segment of the old ring road around the island.  As planned the first segment is the Matangasi /Parasi segment.  Hon Rick Hou plans to focus on the next segment Parasi/Suupeine.  Already he has secured SIG funding for the first segment and now awaits engineering assessments to be carried and hopefully the contractor will sign contract with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) for work to start before end of this year. 

Work on the interior access road is also progressing by the logging operator from Paeni. However, of late, this has been hampered by road blocks.  This is expected to continue as logging operations in the area is already becoming  source of contention among resource owners.  

In keeping with procedures new zone committees were elected – which saw some new members in some of the committees.  Early in January both the old and new chairs were called to attend DC meetings at the SMC HQ in Afio, when two meetings of the DC were convened on 8^th and 9^th January.  The old DC met first which reviewed the SMC 2012 program of activities: including the 2012 Budget outcomes, Project deliveries and the 2012 – 2015 Infrastructure Development Program.  The new DC met after which it considered and approved the 2013 Budget and the revised 2013 – 2015 Infrastructure Development Program. The details of these outcomes have been finalized and will be posted on the SMC Blog. Hon R N Hou returned to Honiara on 10 January 2013 by speed boat. 

Parasi airfield

As reported in Quarter 1, due to certain land issues, there was a set-back in the re-opening of the airport. Early this year, Mr C Honiola was unhappy about the signing of the lease agreement which he was not party to it, and he demanded certain other benefits which he claimed as principle landowner. During the quarter it

Nu’usi Wharf

Progress on this project is on track. As reported last quarter, work on this project will begin in July/August and should be completed before end of this year.

Liwe Industrial Park

This project is a concept by the Israel government which is being developed through the Malaita Chazon Authority (MCA) with assistance from the State of Israel.  During this quarter an MOU was been signed between the Land Trustees, the MCA and the Malaita Provincial Government marking the “handing over” of

Afio/Olusu’u Coastal Road

As reported last Quarter, the contract for this project has been awarded last year and work on it is scheduled to begin before the end of this year. The work includes construction of five bridges. However, assurances by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development are still being followed up to ascertain this important project.

Small Malaita Hydro Scheme

This project features quite prominently in our long term development plans. The objective is todevelop and secure a sustainable energy source to support the development of the Afio economic growth center, as well as for the island as a whole. Given its nature, as well as its intended size, it is important to know that this

Rokera PSS – Power project

This is an important project in the SMC development program. Last year Hon R N Hou submitted this project for funding through the Department of Energy which a new generator was already purchased. However, installation and its completion work could not continue due to mismanagement of the fund by officials in the ministry. Budget allocation has already been approved for the work to complete but it continues to experience delay by department officials. Hon R N Hou expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the school and assured staff and students that he is doing his best to complete this important project this year.   

Afio Economic Growth Centre (EGC)

Plans to start preliminary activities on this important project this year sustained a serious set-back. Last year the central government paid seed money ($1 Million) ear-marked for this project through the Malaita Chazon Authority (MCA). These funds were intended for all preliminary activities, including land mobilisation

Liwe Industrial Park

This project has made further progress with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Malaita Chazon Authority (MCA), Malaita Provincial Assembly and the Liwe Land Trustees early this year. The next milestone that we now look forward to is the ground breaking – when the actual civil engineering work should kick start.  All parties to the MOU are committed to this project.  

Afio Economic Growth Centre

Given the importance the national government attaches to this project, the Ministry of Rural Development is going to take the lead role in developing the Afio Economic Growth Center. As a sign of its commitment late last year, the central government transferred a total of $3 million to the Malaita

Parasi airfield

Two important components of this project are due to be completed in 2012. These are the security fence and the terminal building. While the airfield is already in use, flights have yet to be included in the airline’s normal schedule because an agent has yet to be appointed and confirmed by the airline.

Nu’usi Wharf

Hon R N Hou announced that work on the Nuusi wharf will begin later this year. He said this project is important not only to his constituents but also parts of East Are Are constituency. He assured his people of Zones 1 and 2 that he will continue to pursue this project until completion to a permanent wharf this year. He is pleased that this long-awaited wharf is now going to be realized.    

Afio/Olusu’u Coastal Road

At long last, the old coastal road from Afio to Olusuu is now going to be rehabilitated. This was announced by Hon R N Hou during the Development Committee in March this year. This road – including all bridges – was left unattended to for more than twenty-five years. Sadly, successive governments have ignored this important physical infrastructure. Consequently, over the period, economic activities in the region declined including other services.  Late last year, the contract was awarded and work will start this year.     

Small Malaita Hydro Scheme

An important component of our long term development plan is to secure reliable power and energy from eco-friendly sustainable sources.  Early this year, preliminary work to locate a potential source for power has started. In consultation with the SMC Office, scouting teams were deployed from Auki to

Parasi airport rehabilitation

Hon
 R
 Hou
 visited
 Parasi 
 airport
 on
 10th
 November
 2011
 where
 he 
met
 the
 community
 leaders 
and 
foreman 
of 
works 
at 
the 
airport. 
Hon Hou 
said 
he 
was 
very 
pleased
 with 
the 
progress
 of 
 the
 airport
 rehabilitation
 works.
 
The
 contractor 
was 
also 
pleased 
and 
assured 
that 
the
 work
 should
 be
 completed
 by
 the


Liwe Industrial Park

On 
10th 
November
 2011 
Hon 
R
 Hou
 convened
 a
 general
 meeting
 at
 Liwe,
 Su'upeine
 Bay,
 where
 he
 met community
 leaders 
and
 land
owners
 in
 that
 area
 to
 explain
 and
 clarify
 certain
 issues
 relating
 to
 the
 proposed
 industrial 
 park
 to
 be
 established
 at
 Liwe
 under
 the
 Israeli
 Economic
 Stimulus 
Package
 to
 Malaita
 Province.