1 Nov 2007

PNG landowner group defends aims to mine area near Kokoda Track

7:02 pm on 1 November 2007

A Papua New Guinea landowner group has defended its plans to have mining developed on its land near the famous Kokoda Track.

Part of the track is set to be rerouted as a landowner-endorsed exploration company, Frontier Resources, begins mining the Kodu area in Central province.

But Kokoda local level government president Ori Kenia has warned against the plans, saying trekking makes for better long-term benefits and was more environment-friendly than mining.

However, Barney Jack, a spokesman for the Mt Kodu Resource Owners Association, says unlike Mr Kenia's area at the other end of the track, his people don't benefit from the track.

"We are from the other end of the track. I don't know how much he benefits from this track but as far as we're concerned, his people - Kokoda - they get plane and they get down at Kokoda. For us, we have to walk. But it's not nice when you see people carry rice back, two or three days to walk up the mountain, sleep on the road in rain, to get their food to the village; you're sick and you start walking and on the way they die."

Barney Jack says mining would offer a chance for local people to improve the quality of their lives.