Community & Regional Development - Morobe Mining Joint Venture

Community & Regional Development
Road Infrastructure
Under the infrastructure program, over
K7.5 million for emergency repairs,
maintenance and upgrade of the Lae –
Bulolo highway has been spent, with an
additional K400, 000 provided to develop
the Wandumi access road linking Wau
and Bulolo, as a restricted alternate
route.
Health and Education Infrastructure
The company’s contribution towards
capacity building doesn’t stop there.
A substantively funded and ongoing
education program for Hidden Valley
and Wafi children has been expanded to
cover most Watut communities.
This has seen more than K1.7 million
spent on education subsidies, providing
better access to educational opportunity.
The program also funds education
infrastructure, teaching aids and teacher
training.
An aid post, elementary classrooms
and community hall each in the three
landowner villages of Nauti, Winima and
Kwembu have been completed, at a cost
of K1.5 million. The construction and
fitting out of the Babuaf clinic in the Lower
Watut area at a cost of K191, 000. The
clinic will serve 10 villages. Construction
of 8 school buildings (double highset
classrooms) and three teacher’s houses
at locations in Wau, Baiyune, Bulolo and
at selected locations along the highway is
progressing with 4 of the building already
completed. Projects are in line with the
Clean water supplies, more reliable than
seasonal river flows, is brought right to
community door steps.
Provincial Department of Education
planned priorities for school infrastructure,
through its SLIP Program.
Water Supplies
For many communities who face long
daily walks to access fresh water supplies,
more than K2.1 million has been spent
on providing clean, reliable village water
installations. The water supply program is
accompanied by sessions of health and
sanitation awareness.
This program will improve life and
community health in up to 40 villages
throughout the Watut River region.
The people of Golden Pine, Winima, Manki
1, Manki 2, Kuembu 1, Kuembu 2 , and
Society in the Upper Watut are already
enjoying the benefits of clean fresh water,
while progress on awareness, feasibility,
soliciting village commitment to ensure
ownership, and the ordering and delivery
of materials are being progressed for the
remaining villages of Kuembu 3, Nauti,
Latep, and Leklu. All 13 villages in the
Lower Watut are already enjoying the
benefits of clean fresh water while in
Middle Watut pre-feasibility studies are
still progressing for Vidipos, Baiyune,
Samsam (Pelengkua), Sambio (old &
new), Galawo, Taiak, Gawapu, Bangalum,
Biamena, Dambi, Kapin, Nayakes and
Piu in the Middle Watut.
Agriculture/Aquaculture Programs
Along with clean water goes improved
nutrition, and also addressed are
agriculture and fish farming.
Training is aimed at complementing the
skills of the village people who depend
on their land. More than K130,000 has
already been spent on basic husbandry
and Start Your Business trainings and
extension services, with a further K130,
For more information Contact: Media & Communications Manager Tel: + 675
472 1703 or visit our website at www.morobejv.com
July 2011
41 fish farmers from Sambio village in the Middle Watut who successfully completed a
Business Management training in July conducted by Small Business Development Corporation.
000 spent to date on cocoa farming in
the Lower Watut region and K230,143
on fish farmer training, pond construction
and stocking. Three fish farmer trainings
for Lower Watut and 2 for Middle Watut
have been completed while four model
fish pond construction and stocking has
been completed at four villages in Lower
Watut which are Mafanazo, Magaring,
Malasap, and Kisi-Ono. Fish are thriving
in the ponds, and adding a new source of
nutrition and family income.
In an area where alluvial mining follows
the rich history of gold production from
the sands of the rivers of Wau and
Bulolo, more than K16, 000 has been
spent to send selected landowners and
community representatives to the Wau
small scale school of alluvial mining.
This practical program was initiated by
the Mineral Resources Authority and the
European Union with the sponsorship
commitment of Hidden Valley, to improve
techniques and yields for small scale
miners.
Quick Facts
• Up to forty villages spanning
the Upper and Mid to Lower
Watut areas will benefit
from clean, reliable fresh
water supplies and health
and sanitation awareness
training.
• Over K 7.5 million spent
on emergency repairs,
maintenance and upgrade
of the Lae - Bulolo Highway
keeping this vital link open.
• A K26 million power
transmission line project will
enable rural electrification
opportunities for
communities.