3 Mar 2010

Developers to continue fight for Unagi Park in PNG

12:14 pm on 3 March 2010

A Supreme Court decision in Papua New Guinea means a local government challenge to the commercial rezoning of Unagi Park in the capital, Port Moresby, will now be heard in the National Court.

The Post Courier newspaper reports that in the latest round of the legal battle for control of the land between developers and the National Capital District Commission, the Supreme Court has refused an application from two companies, Virgo Number 65 Limited and Fairhaven Number 72.

The paper reports that the companies had appealed against a decision made by the National Court last year, in which the commission sought review of the Minister for Lands and Physical Planning's approval of the re-zoning of Unagi Park from open space for public use to a commercial area.

The companies' lawyer says they will continue to fight for the parkland's rezoning.

Governor Powes Parkop says Unagi Park is vital to the health and well-being of the city and its people and the commission will exhaust all legal avenues to retain it for public use.