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8. Action Plans for Wards in conjunction with LLG Five Year Plans:
At all meetings, the community leaders and villagers were requested to provide a list of community development projects which the Authority could consider in conjunction with the Kokoda and Koiari LLGs Five Year Development Plans and seek out donor funding with counterpart funding from the community and Trekking Fee revenue. It would appear that a number of smaller projects should be possible through AusAid?s Community Development Scheme, whilst funding for the bigger projects can be sought from the National or Provincial Governments and donor Agencies such at Kokoda Track Foundation, AusAid, Rotary International, foreign embassies, etc.
Refer attachment for Action Plans in respect of each Ward and or village obtained during the Awareness Patrol.
9. Village Census Book Implementation:
The Kokoda Local-level Government (under the present reforms) has implemented the Census Book as supplied by the Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs. The LLG employs a Village Recorder in each Ward to write up the Book and maintain it. For such, the Village Recorder receives K40 per month. It is proposed that such Village Recorder also be responsible for stamping all Trek Permits with the Village Stamp, for which the Authority can budget to top up his monthly allowance in the villages where such stamp will be used.Kovelo village Census Book is full and a new book has been requested, which will be sent to Kokoda for the Kovelo Village Recorder next week.
The Koiari LLG has not implemented such Census Books to date. The Authority can assist the Koiari LLG introduce the Census Books in the Kokoda Track villages and arrange in conjunction with Dept of Provincial and Local Government Affairs for the training of prospective Village Recorders.
Such books will assist with the identification of Koiari prospective guides and porters as well as provide an accurate census of the village population, which can also be used for the updating of the future Common Roll for the area.
10. Guest House Availability, Quality and Administration:
There are a number of new Guest Houses, which have been or are currently being constructed, both in and nearby villages and some in campsite locations. Communities and individuals should not rush into constructing new guesthouses unless their location away from the villages has been discussed with Tour Operators and the Authority. There is no objection for the construction of new guest houses to replace old but too many guest houses in villages could result in low or nil occupancy for some.The communities were advised that trekkers preferred bush material guesthouses as such added atmosphere to their trek. Most trekkers were not in favour of iron sheds or even iron roofs on guesthouses. Some trekkers preferred to have a couple of nights in tents in the bush campsites instead of guesthouse accommodation.
There are new guesthouses recently completed or under construction at Modulu Hamlet, Hoi Village, Deniki Battle Camp site, Alolo side of Isurava Memorial, Templeton #2 Crossing (iron walls & roof), Brigade Hill, New Naoro village (x2) and Ua?ule Creek. The Isurava Memorial iron walled & roof guesthouse has had its padbolt and lock removed by a trekking group as the building was locked. A replacement lock will be supplied to avoid contents of mattresses and pillows being stolen with the landowner caretaker being the custodian of the key.
Most Guest Houses on the Kokoda Track are privately owned. It was suggested that Tourism Promotion Authority assist with the provision of Guest House owner/manager training in the role of guest house keeping, maintenance, book-keeping, etc. It may be preferable to have one large community guesthouse in the trekking villages.
It was suggested that all guesthouses register with KTA and a registration form will soon be distributed to owners of all existing guest houses and those under construction. The Authority can assist with the marketing of guesthouses for long or short trek visits and co-ordinate the bookings for guesthouses from itineraries supplied to the Authority by Tour Operators and from small groups or individuals when they pay their Trek Permit Fee.
It was suggested that Guest House fees be standardized at K20 per person per night and K5 per guide or porter. Such would provide reasonable income for owners of new guesthouses and income for maintenance or upgrading of older guesthouses.
Washing facilities at guest houses should be improved where the village has a water supply with the provision of a shower rose or high level tap in a simple walled area for privacy of the bathers. There should also be a bench or dry area nearby where clothes, towels, etc can be placed. In washing areas, including collection of water and washing of plates and dishes, etc, the ground should be dry, stoned or timber decked and not muddy.
Toilet facilities of the standard pit latrine should be clean and of reasonable size so that the trekker can stand upright. It is hoped that a simple vented pit latrine used in National Parks in parts of Australia can be modified for use in Kokoda Track villages in the future.
11. Maintenance of Kokoda Track:
The Kokoda Track was in reasonable condition. Numerous treefalls and land slips need to be cleared. Temporary track diversions skirt these areas. In the past the Local Government Councils had a community workday set aside for maintenance of villages and clearing of village access tracks. This works only to a limited extent these days.With Village Courts now in operation in the Kokoda Track Area, community work in clearing parts of the Kokoda Track could be handed down as penalties by the Village Court.
It is planned that a MOA be established between the Northern and Central Provincial Governments for funds to be made available for the clearing of the Kokoda Track. Approaches will also be made to the Kokoda and Koiari LLGs for assistance with funding maintenance of the Track. When funds are available from the PGs, LLGs and possibly some Trek Fee income, maintenance can be budgeted for tree-fall and landslip clearing, river crossing log bridges, etc.
There are also plans for various construction projects, including the construction of footbridges over various creek and river crossings through the Australia / PNG joint funded Kokoda Trail Development Project. Counterpart funding of some K9 million by the PNG Government is still awaited to complete the program. Further negotiations for funding of such projects will be continued by the Authority with National Cultural Commission.
Because of the changing course of the Naoro River, Naoro villages suggested the possibility of a dinghy with outboard motor to ferry trekkers and villagers across the widest and deepest sections of this river. Such would be in preference to a footbridge, but the logistics of servicing a dinghy or canoe would be somewhat of a feat in itself.
12. Airstrip and Road Maintenance and Upgrading:
To promote trekking and tourism in the area, it is necessary for four existing Mt Koiari airstrips to be maintained and upgraded where possible. These airstrips are Efogi, Kagi, Manari and Naduli. New airstrips at Alola and Abuari currently under construction and funded by the Northern Provincial Government will also need regular maintenance once officially opened.
It was suggested that application be made to Community Development Scheme for part funding of four lawnmowers and that the Authority hire mower operators and supply an estimated 40 litres of petrol per month to keep the existing four airstrips grass cut. In the case of Efogi, it may be worthwhile having an Aesop volunteer surveyor survey this strip and have manual labour or a bobcat cut the humps out of the strip and fill the hollows. Such equipment could be part of a Defence Force exercise for Efogi and maybe other airstrips.
Work on upgrading Myola and Naoro airstrips would need further consideration, once the present Myola land dispute is settled and once the Naoro people settle down at their final new village location and determine the need, if any, of having an airstrip at Naoro.
Upgraded and maintained airstrips will encourage the recommencement of scheduled flights into this area and assist with short trekking plans, agricultural crops to Port Moresby markets and improved services to the community in store goods and other supplies, etc.
Depo to Ower?s Corner road needs urgent upgrading as 4WD vehicles cannot progress past the Salvation Army camp due to deep wheel ruts and potholes. It is believed that some K100,000 overseas funding with K100,000 PNG counterpart funding for basic rectification work on this road is forthcoming. Once contracts have been let and this work is completed it will be necessary for regular maintenance of drains, ruts and potholes to prevent the road from becoming impassable again.
13. Memorials, Museums, Historic Sites and War Relics:
The Authority should maintain memorials, and where appropriate, pay a caretaker to keep the memorial and surrounding grounds neat and tidy. In the case of Kokoda Memorial Park, the Authority should get title to the land or an assignment from the present department for the Authority to maintain the park and administer the Museum, thereby improving the display of war relics. The small house adjoining the Museum could become the Authority?s Kokoda office, although there are other office opportunities through the Kokoda LLG and the Department of Environment and Conservation (formerly National Parks & Wildlife).The Isurava Memorial Park can be maintained by the Authority, with assignment and possible part funding by the Australian War Graves Commission. A similar situation would possibly apply with the Ower?s Corner memorial.
Fees should not be charged by landowners for visitors to visit memorials. KTA should pay a landowner or contractor to maintain the memorial and surrounding grounds.
Interested landowners can open up safe war relic sites, eco-tourism attractions, maintain the track to them and charge visitors an entrance fee. Village museums are also privately owned and owners can charge an admittance fee to visitors.
It is proposed that KTA identify historic war sites with plaques or signboards, have track arrows and distances between villages and points of interest.
The landowner at Brigade Hill has currently fenced the memorial site, constructed a by-pass road and erected a guesthouse adjoining the memorial plaque. He is charging K5 per visitor to the memorial site and K15 per night for guesthouse accommodation or campsite fee. The visitor fee for the Brigade Hill memorial should be waived if KTA pays the landowner to maintain the site.
14. Cultural Activities for Visitors and Trekkers:
Communities were encouraged to market their culture in the form of welcome songs and singsing groups. The welcome singsing at Kovelo is normally K100 per performance. There does not appear to be any charge for religious welcome songs. Some villagers expressed interest in selling bilums, baskets and other handcrafts to trekkers, and possibly through a future information hut at Ower?s Corner and at the Kokoda and Sogeri Authority office. Books, maps and postcards of the Kokoda Track could also be sold at these outlets.
15. KTA Logo Competetion:
A logo competition for the Kokoda Track Authority was conducted with primary school children along the Kokoda Track. 34 entries were received and will be judged at the next Management Committee Meeting.
Action Plans for Wards in conjunction with LLG Five Year Plans:
The following list of wish-list projects for the five year development plans of Wards and Villages (From Kokoda to Depo / Sogeri) was supplied during the Awareness Patrol. Some wards and villages have yet to supply their action plans.
Ward 1 (Asimba), Ward 4 (Amada), Ward 5 (Kokoda Station), Ward 6 (Koagea Block), Ward 7 (Kebara) and ward 10 (Waju) are in the Kokoda Local Level Government?s Five Year Decelpment Plan, a copy of which will be supplied in the near future. Discussions with these Kokoda wards / Villages has been left with the Kokoda LLG President and Ward Councillors and the Chairman of the Authority
Kovelo:
- Housing Scheme (Roofing iron sheets for housing)
- Double Classroom for Elementary School
- Aid Post
- Guest House
Hoi Village:
- Housing Scheme (Iron roofing)
- Petrol Lawnmower
- Track Maintenance (Ranger Scheme)
- Women?s Sewing Machines and Training
- Rice Threshing Machine
- Vehicle road Kokoda to Hoi (Already surveyed by OPIC for Oil Palm Development)
- Extension SDA church building (Roof iron, ridge cap, nails, cement)
- Poultry Project
- Community Hall
Isurava #1:
- Mini ? Hydro
- Extend water supply to big river (presently dirty water supply)
- Fence Isurava Memorial site to keep pigs out
- Cattle Project
- Poultry Project
- Housing Scheme (Iron roofing)
- Aid Post
- Donation Fund for Isurava Battle Field maintenance
- Sewing Machines and training
Alolo:
- Chainsaw for Eaglewood harvesting
- Mini-Hydro
- Community Museum building
- Alolo Airstrip completion (PG funded)
- Eco-tourism Wildlife Management Area
- Maiaka Waterfall at Alolo develop as tourist attraction
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