Kokoda Initiative Update

[Gail Thomas]

Kokoda Initiative Update – September 2010:

Welcome to the Kokoda Initiative Update – a monthly electronic update of activities under the joint PNG-Australia Kokoda Initiative, brought to you by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC – previously DEWHA) on behalf of the Australian Kokoda Taskforce.

We hope you find this update useful, and we encourage and welcome all contributions and feedback.

In this issue:

• Kokoda Track Authority Chairman Visits Track Communities
• Return to the Classroom
• Kokoda Hospital Road Repaired and Creek Banks Protected
• Track Improvements Continue Past Alola
• Proud New Kokoda Rangers
• Operation Halivim Sindaun Lon Aburursim HIV (HIV Intensive Integrated Patrol)
• Mapping and Fieldwork in the Wet Tropics
• Meet… Brian Boon

Kokoda Track Authority Chairman Visits Track Communities

During 17-27 August, the Kokoda Track Authority Chairman, Mr James Enage, visited communities along the Track. James attended community consultation meetings to discuss the drop in trekker numbers and the resulting impact on trek fee revenue and income from tourism service payments to Ward Development Committees. The patrol was also an opportunity to talk to communities about celebrations for Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels Day on 3 November. Track patrols are one part of the Kokoda Track Authority's ongoing communication and consultation with the Kokoda Track communities.

Return to the Classroom]

The Kokoda Development Program's (KDP) Education Patrol visited villages along the southern end of the Track in August to assess progress on KDP education and health infrastructure projects. They confirmed construction was complete on a double classroom and a staff house for the Efogi Seventh Day Adventist Primary School and inspected classrooms currently under construction in three other villages. The team reported that progress is good and that hardware materials for future school projects have been received in the region, as have stationery items for the second half of the school year.

The KDP Education Patrol is conducted under the Kokoda Initiative.

Kokoda Hospital Road Repaired and Creek Banks Protected

August and September were busy months in Kokoda as implementation of Kokoda Safety Package activities in the town continued. Repairs to the road leading up to Kokoda Hospital were completed in September, after workers rebuilt the supporting slope and road surface that had collapsed after flood damage. This work has created much-needed ease of access to the hospital.

The Kokoda Safety Package works also included construction of rock-filled levies along two creeks south of Kokoda to prevent similar flood damage occurring in the future. Through this work, flooding into the lower Kokoda township will be minimised. A team of 55 men from the Kokoda area helped move 330 tonnes of rock by hand in order to build the 34 metre long walls which will divert the high volume of water that flows after even very little rain.

The Kokoda Track Safety Package is funded by the Australian Government with the PNG Government supporting implementation. Both governments are working with local communities and the trekking industry to ensure that the Kokoda Track is as safe as possible, while recognising the risks inherent in this remote and rugged area.

Track Improvements Continue Past Alola

The second stage of the Kokoda Track maintenance and safety upgrade is now complete between Alola and Kasle Doba Creek, approximately 18km south of Kokoda. Steep side slopes and prolific vegetation growth had contributed to a down-slope movement of the Track. This created some dangerous drop-offs and in places left little to prevent Track users from falling down the valley towards Eora Creek.

The Alola work was supervised by trail builder Tim Eden, following the successful completion of work at Brown River. The Track repair and realignment was assisted by the rocky nature of the site, which enabled track builders from Alola Village to develop a sustainable new track alignment that blended in with the jungle environment. The work also repaired damaged stretches of Track within the choko fields and has provided villagers and trekkers with a safer path immediately out from the village.

This work was complemented by a program of log removal from the track which was undertaken following the severe storms that hit the area in June. The aim of the work is to return the track to a jungle like experience.

A review of track maintenance and upgrading projects was undertaken by Tim Eden and the Kokoda Track Rangers at their recent workshop in Port Moresby. The importance of regular and targeted track maintenance was identified and in particular drainage and the careful management of vegetation on priority sections of track.

Proud New Kokoda Rangers

Imagine having a job where you meet interesting people from different backgrounds, trek through pristine tropical rainforest, cross vibrant streams and rivers, and escape the stress of city life! These gentlemen have this and much more- meet the newly inducted Rangers of the Kokoda Track Authority: Landy Noel, Nuana Momoa, Elijah Peter, Donald Siga and Joe Duhube.

The rangers will utilise their knowledge and skills to assist trekker and walk the track inspecting the roads, bridges and guest house facilities along the way. They will also be responsible for ensuring that all trekkers carry permits and that tour operators are licensed. It also helps to be able to speak Koiari, Motu, Tok-pisin and English," says Ranger Landy, who has walked the track more than 32 times on his patrols.

It wasn't an easy application process. Ranger Joe had to walk all the way from his village Abuari to Port Moresby to deliver his application. Ranger Elijah's biggest concern was his lack of formal education, however through his demonstrated experience and the old adage of hard work and determination he has more than proven his capabilities. For Ranger Nuana, becoming a Ranger holds sentimental value to him because he is the proud son of a Fuzzy Wuzzy Angel. "I often wonder about the dangers my father faced and the feelings he had during WWII. He was barely out of his teens trying to understand a war fought on his land by strange men."

The new rangers will be reporting to the Kokoda Track Authority and will play an increasing role in the development of maintenance plans for the track to ensure a sustainable future.

* Adapted from an article by DEC Communications Officer Pauline Riman, published in The National on 24 September 2010.

Operation Halivim Sindaun Lon Aburursim HIV (HIV Intensive Integrated Patrol)

An Intensive HIV Integrated Health Patrol has been undertaken along the Track as the first major program of the Kokoda Development Program's (KDP) Kokoda Track HIV Prevention Strategy. Two patrol teams from the Hiri and Sohe districts of Central and Oro provinces visited twenty-five villages in the Kokoda to Sogeri catchment areas to conduct HIV/AIDS awareness, HIV voluntary counselling and testing, and distributing condoms and dispenser machines. The teams also provided additional health services including family health services, disease control, dental health services, environmental health and sanitation.

The patrol was funded by the PNG- Australia HIV/AIDs program – Sanap Wantaim ('Stand Together') – and the KDP as part of the KDP's broader health program. It enabled HIV Peer Educators / Village Health Volunteers and health workers to directly apply their knowledge and skills in the communities that need them.

Following this on-ground patrol, the HIV Peer Educators will also have the hands-on experience and confidence to carry out ongoing HIV prevention, treatment and care programs to change behaviours and assist people living along the Kokoda Track.

A health audit conducted as part of the development of programs under the Kokoda Initiative found that the social and economic characteristics of communities along the Track, coupled with the mobility of their people and visitors, made the Kokoda region particularly vulnerable to the risks of HIV infection. The Kokoda Development Program's HIV Prevention Strategy aims to reduce the risk of infection in Track communities by promoting awareness and acceptance of appropriate risk-reduction behaviours.

Mapping and Fieldwork in the Wet Tropics

Several PNG Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) staff (including graduates working on the Kokoda Initiative) spent the first two weeks of September undertaking training in the latest Geographic Information System (GIS) technology.

The training provided a hands-on introduction to the tools for mapping, editing, analysing, and documenting GIS data. GIS systems are the standard systems used in land management to understand and explain data, and knowledge of these tools will be invaluable to the DEC staff in their future work.

During a 4-day break in the GIS training, the DEC staff attended supplementary field training involving a bus tour of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The tour provided an opportunity for DEC staff to see and learn about the successful integration of forest conservation, sustainable tourism infrastructure, and hydro electric and water supply infrastructure.

Meet… Brian Boon

Each month we feature someone personally involved in delivering projects along the Kokoda Track to provide an insight into the life and background of the people dedicated to Kokoda Track work. This month's featured profile is of Brian Boon, KTA Kokoda Safety Package Project Manager.

Born: Hobart, Tasmania (the small island to the south of Australia)

Lives: On my yacht at the Yachtie in Port Moresby

Previous work: I graduated as a civil engineer in the Australian Army, and I served in several areas, including 2 years with the PNGDF Engineer Battalion in 1977 and 1978. My later roles were Asset Management in Canberra, and then as a Director with the Hobart City Council running their 250 person outdoor workforce. I recently worked for 5 years as an adviser on the PNG/Australia Law and Justice Program working with a number of agencies in the Law & Justice Sector.

Hobbies/interests: After my family, I'm passionate about my sailing – I'm very competitive, and have had a few successes. I'm also heavily involved in Yachtie activities including running training on sailing and navigation. I also enjoy scuba diving, bushwalking and a bit of squash.

Most unforgettable or rewarding experience on the Track/Track region: The Safety Package has provided the opportunity to make so many people's
lives safer, and therefore better. My reward is seeing and hearing the heartfelt thanks from the many people in the villages where we have completed some work. So many say they often get many words but not much action – but they say the Safety Package has been the reverse – LOTS of action.

Kokoda Initiative program I am most passionate about: The Safety Package!

From my PNG colleagues I have learnt: To be more aware of the cultural aspects of the work we do and the people we work with (especially those along the Track), including the small but important differences between regions.

Vision for the Kokoda Track: That the Track and its supporting infrastructure (ie the roads, bridges, airfields etc) is kept in a safe and well maintained condition by the responsible administrations for many years to come.

To subscribe to this update, email kokodainitiative@environment.gov.au

[Author]

Posts