By Bridgette Komatep – EM TV, Port Moresby
The Mineral Resources Authority (MRA) in Papua New Guinea has been funding infrastructure in provinces that have mining projects.
Under the government’s Public Private Investment Program with Hidden Valley, a new resource centre was constructed in Wau.
It is a K500, 000 multi-purpose building that will be used by the people of Wau.
The resource centre for the women of Wau is located within the grounds of the Wau Rural Local Level Government (LLG) Office. It was handed over to the LLG by MRA’s Executive Manager for Corporate Services Division, Daniel Kaputin, and other senior officials.
The multi-purpose centre will be used by the women for meetings and conferences. The engineering and construction works was supervised by Hidden Valley Mine.
As for the women, the days of looking for venues to hold meetings are over. President of Wau Women’s Small Scale Mining Group was pleased with the government’s support. Wau Rural LLG Council Manager Judy Pokana expressed similar sentiments.
Since production commenced in 2009, other projects completed from Hidden Valley’s PIP Program include the construction of the Wau police station and staff housing, and two classrooms for Grace Memorial High School and housing for community health workers in Nauti, Kuembu and Winima Villages.
Similar community projects have extended to other areas that host mining projects such as Lihir, Simberi and Ramu. In New Ireland Province, the Konos Government station properties were renovated under the Lihir and Simberi Mining Projects Public Private Investment Program Funding, including the police station and 17 houses for public servants.
In Ramu, under the Ramu PIP Program, the government built houses for police officers at Walium.
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