Garrett Solves PNG's Safety Problem
Thread Starter
Garrett Solves PNG's Safety Problem
' A$2million to improve Kokoda airstrips by Nick Butterly
The West australian, Sat 5th September,2009
Australia will spend almost $2 million improving about 6 remote and dangerous airstrips along the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea, Federal Heritage Minister Peter Garrett says.
Many airstrips had had little improvement since they were first carved out of the jungle by troops during WW2, Mr Garrett said yesterday.
The $2 million is likely to be just a small portion of funds to be spent in coming years by Australia to improve airstrips in the area, and air safety in general in PNG.
Mr Garrett said the initial funds would be spent on safety audits of strips along the trail so experts could get a better picture of the work needed.
This work was essential given the many Australians who were travelling to PNG each year to trek the trail, he said
Pete's obviously very well advised there in nice safe VFR Canberra!
happy days.....
The West australian, Sat 5th September,2009
Australia will spend almost $2 million improving about 6 remote and dangerous airstrips along the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea, Federal Heritage Minister Peter Garrett says.
Many airstrips had had little improvement since they were first carved out of the jungle by troops during WW2, Mr Garrett said yesterday.
The $2 million is likely to be just a small portion of funds to be spent in coming years by Australia to improve airstrips in the area, and air safety in general in PNG.
Mr Garrett said the initial funds would be spent on safety audits of strips along the trail so experts could get a better picture of the work needed.
This work was essential given the many Australians who were travelling to PNG each year to trek the trail, he said
Pete's obviously very well advised there in nice safe VFR Canberra!
happy days.....
Risk Mitigation
One of the main risk mitigation measures is of course to remove the Hazard.
Let's see if the auditors suggest razing some of those pesky hazardous high peaks....
Let's see if the auditors suggest razing some of those pesky hazardous high peaks....
Silly Old Git
Yes of course, wonderful things being done up here with SIHIP funds. So far no houses, but hey, the cost per house has blown out to $2 mill.
Does anybody care?
Blessing I suppose,we have been spared images of Kev The Builder in hard hat, pointing to something in the distance while studying upside down plans.
Yeah right..
How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep when our beds are burning
Four wheels scare the cockatoos
From kintore east to yuendemu
The western desert lives and breathes
In forty five degreesHow can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep when our beds are burning
Does anybody care?
Blessing I suppose,we have been spared images of Kev The Builder in hard hat, pointing to something in the distance while studying upside down plans.
Yeah right..
How can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep when our beds are burning
Four wheels scare the cockatoos
From kintore east to yuendemu
The western desert lives and breathes
In forty five degreesHow can we dance when our earth is turning
How do we sleep when our beds are burning
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2 million??
Will 2 million fix anything??
I remember John Howard saying he would spend "tens of millions of dollars" to fix the aboriginal problems. It soon got to "500 million this year"
And we all know it will take years, or decades.
Pollies are actors.
I remember John Howard saying he would spend "tens of millions of dollars" to fix the aboriginal problems. It soon got to "500 million this year"
And we all know it will take years, or decades.
Pollies are actors.
Silly Old Git
It will need at least four or five "Staff Accommodation buildings" at about $1 million a copy first.
Plus suitable TWIN engine FIFO arrangements for senior public poo-bars to inspect and provide hard hat photo opportunities for you - know -who
Plus suitable TWIN engine FIFO arrangements for senior public poo-bars to inspect and provide hard hat photo opportunities for you - know -who
Silly Old Git
Of course all the rotten bastards are doing is using the Kokoda legend and your $2 million for their own political purposes (spin)
There would be huge $igns erected at Efogi and Kokoda to bring to Oz trekkers attention the wonderful contributions of Bollard and co.
Signed by Big Julie as well no doubt
There would be huge $igns erected at Efogi and Kokoda to bring to Oz trekkers attention the wonderful contributions of Bollard and co.
Signed by Big Julie as well no doubt
Last edited by tinpis; 5th Sep 2009 at 15:17.
Silly Old Git
And another thing.... there'd be bugger left of the $2m by the time Dear Leader bought a new pair of Gucci sandals for Sir Michael, and had special "Moresby proof" catering ordered for the jet
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From the labor party website
The Australian Government has committed $1.8 million to fast-track a range of safety projects along the Kokoda Track.
Australian Heritage Minister, Peter Garrett, and Papua New Guinean Minister for Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Charles Abel, said this initial funding was the first part of a broader program of joint initiatives between the two governments.
The initial $1.8m will be used to undertake safety enhancements at airstrips - including Kokoda, improvements to communications along the Track and maintenance work on the Owers Corner Road.
Specific safety measures made possible by this funding are:
Risk assessments and safety audits by PNG Civil Aviation Authority and CASA at Kokoda, Manari, Kagi, Melei, Efogi and Naduri airstrips.
Installing safety equipment, including windsocks, cones and markers and provision of maintenance equipment at the six airstrips.
Building sheds, including installing weighing scales, at airstrips.
Providing regular maintenance works - mowing, clearing drains and repairing potholes - at all six airstrips.
Carrying out urgent repairs to Owers Corner Road, including grading, gravelling and installing new drainage.
Upgrading Sogeri Bridge Road
Constructing footbridges at key points along the Track in consultation with communities and the trekking industry.
Investigating if another radio channel for emergencies is feasible.
Installing a second radio channel for emergencies and providing training and additional radio equipment along the Track.
Implementing a rolling replacement program to provide and maintain additional radios in villages near the track
Enabling initial work to identify areas where there are explosives on the Track and how to best address this issue.
A second tranche of measures is currently being developed by governments, communities and stakeholders to identify further, major works needed to improve roads, airstrips and communications. These will be informed by the results of technical studies.
Australian Heritage Minister, Peter Garrett, and Papua New Guinean Minister for Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Charles Abel, said this initial funding was the first part of a broader program of joint initiatives between the two governments.
The initial $1.8m will be used to undertake safety enhancements at airstrips - including Kokoda, improvements to communications along the Track and maintenance work on the Owers Corner Road.
Specific safety measures made possible by this funding are:
Risk assessments and safety audits by PNG Civil Aviation Authority and CASA at Kokoda, Manari, Kagi, Melei, Efogi and Naduri airstrips.
Installing safety equipment, including windsocks, cones and markers and provision of maintenance equipment at the six airstrips.
Building sheds, including installing weighing scales, at airstrips.
Providing regular maintenance works - mowing, clearing drains and repairing potholes - at all six airstrips.
Carrying out urgent repairs to Owers Corner Road, including grading, gravelling and installing new drainage.
Upgrading Sogeri Bridge Road
Constructing footbridges at key points along the Track in consultation with communities and the trekking industry.
Investigating if another radio channel for emergencies is feasible.
Installing a second radio channel for emergencies and providing training and additional radio equipment along the Track.
Implementing a rolling replacement program to provide and maintain additional radios in villages near the track
Enabling initial work to identify areas where there are explosives on the Track and how to best address this issue.
A second tranche of measures is currently being developed by governments, communities and stakeholders to identify further, major works needed to improve roads, airstrips and communications. These will be informed by the results of technical studies.
Peter Garrett :: Media release: PNG and Australia agree action on Kokoda
and the agreement between PNG and AUS:
http://www.petergarrett.com.au/resou...NGkokodaJU.pdf
....basically committing $14.9 million to the track and its environment.
.....so - when I read the publicity from the aus government - I am unclear as if this is an additional money to upgrade the PNG infrastructure or if it simply political grand standing from a tragedy by re-announcing or redirecting already committed funds?
Anyone actually know the answer?
Thread Starter
My reading of it is that this is new, 'fast-track' funding designed to short-cut the original April signed agreement, which might still be awaiting sign-off by one or other Parliaments. It would be too cynical for words, even knowing the propensity of this Federal government for spin-doctoring, for it to be a part of, rather than an addition to, the funding. Or would that worry Canberra?
BTW, notice that Naoro isn't on the list. Has it been re-named, or do they reckon it's too difficult to improve?
happy days.....
BTW, notice that Naoro isn't on the list. Has it been re-named, or do they reckon it's too difficult to improve?
happy days.....
Thread Starter
G'day Tinny,
Ahhh, them's were the days.....that is.....provided the kiap wasn't notable for hangovers - then you knew what to expect. DYO?....would love to see anyone doing a 'flight school' type strip inspection on many of the above listed strips.
On another track....wish I had the quals to list myself as a climate change consultant. Peter needs several of these to tell him how to expedite PNG's warming and drying , until it's always VFR. Problem will be solved! Good money available for it too!
happy days,
Ahhh, them's were the days.....that is.....provided the kiap wasn't notable for hangovers - then you knew what to expect. DYO?....would love to see anyone doing a 'flight school' type strip inspection on many of the above listed strips.
On another track....wish I had the quals to list myself as a climate change consultant. Peter needs several of these to tell him how to expedite PNG's warming and drying , until it's always VFR. Problem will be solved! Good money available for it too!
happy days,
Grandpa Aerotart
New foot bridges?
Clean out the 'explosives'?
Surely the attraction of the track is crossing rivers on the same sort of tree trunks used by the villagers and diggers? And as for the unexploded ordinance, well what little is still close to the track would have been put there by the trekking companies to show trekkers - as in moved there from deeper in the jungle where the trekkers never go.
As for the rest of that Nanny State list - well lets just say nothing on it ever killed anyone - the mountains and the weather on the other hand
Clean out the 'explosives'?
Surely the attraction of the track is crossing rivers on the same sort of tree trunks used by the villagers and diggers? And as for the unexploded ordinance, well what little is still close to the track would have been put there by the trekking companies to show trekkers - as in moved there from deeper in the jungle where the trekkers never go.
As for the rest of that Nanny State list - well lets just say nothing on it ever killed anyone - the mountains and the weather on the other hand
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I'm surprised that the government hasn't committed to building a 6 lane highway over the track and leveling the ranges.
Never underestimate Australian Government's ability to take a relatively pristine area of great wartime history and significance to Australians and other peoples of the world and completely F
k it up in the interest of safety and public access.
Take the beach at ANZAC cove as a classic example. It no longer exists because a bloody great road was built straight over the top of it at the insistance of our great government, and in the process countless diggers remains were left unearthed.
Never underestimate Australian Government's ability to take a relatively pristine area of great wartime history and significance to Australians and other peoples of the world and completely F
k it up in the interest of safety and public access.Take the beach at ANZAC cove as a classic example. It no longer exists because a bloody great road was built straight over the top of it at the insistance of our great government, and in the process countless diggers remains were left unearthed.
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
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I would suggest that the money is being announced to make them look good in the public eye. they also know that while they are sending the money over there, it as sure as sh1t its going to come back into the country in a pretty short time frame to buy property in CS and BN. Thats where most of the big men like to buy their property these days. As for the actual money that will get spent on the airstrips...... well, maybe a couple of new cone markers if they don't get stolen from POM on the way there. 
For gawd sake, can't people leave well enough alone? I read Fitzgibbon's book on Kokoda and moreso, I truely believe the Track should be left as close as possible to its original conditions as a memorial to the hardship and endurance of the men...those chocolate soldiers!
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Risk assessments and safety audits by PNG Civil Aviation Authority and CASA at Kokoda, Manari, Kagi, Melei, Efogi and Naduri airstrips. Installing safety equipment, including windsocks, cones and markers and provision of maintenance equipment at the six airstrips.
Building sheds, including installing weighing scales, at airstrips.
Building sheds, including installing weighing scales, at airstrips.
PNG always has been and always will be dangerous. Improving RWY and adding windsocks isn't gonna remove the cumulo-granite. what a fu*&ing waste of tax payer money
Silly Old Git
I wish I had been savvy enough to record Dennis Ranald B. heckling the great Gough Whitlam in Goroka prior to independence
Oh that there was someone today of Junior's calibre and guts to tell these stupid pricks to piss off.
Oh that there was someone today of Junior's calibre and guts to tell these stupid pricks to piss off.