Announcement of Papua and New Guinea Transport Survey on June 21, 1968

• 1818 H STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON D. C. 20433 TELEPHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 June 21, 1968 Subject: Papua and Rew Guinea Transport Survey A comprehensive transport survey with a view to the formulation of a systematic plan for transportation development in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea will be undertaken at the request of the Government of Australia which administers the Territory. The United Nations Development Programme has allocated $489,600 for the project, for which the World Bank is Executing Agency, and the Australian Government's counterpart contribution will be equivalent to $127,000. The British consulting firm of Sir William Halcrow and Partners of London has been retained to undertake • the survey. It is expected that the consultants will begin their field work in the Territory in late June and the survey is scheduled for completion in about 18 months. The Territory consists of the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and some 600 islands which are part of an archipelago in the southwestern region of the Paci- fic Ocean. Population density is low, with roughly two million people living in small, widely scattered communities spread over 183,000 square miles. Many of the larger islands have high mountains rising from coastal swamps. Coastal settlements are largely dependent on shipping for transportation, while inland villages have been served largely by air services. Road construction and maintenance in the dif- ficult ter.rain and climate is expensive and coastal shipping rates are high. The consultants will analyze present transport facili.ties and services includ- ing administrative, managerial, operational and financial \aspects. They will fonnu- late recormnendations ~f measures to improve efficiency and obtain lower costs for existing services, and provide guidance on the future organization, staffing and • budget of the departments concerned with transport. To the extent feasible they will prepare a transport development program and reconmend ways of mobilizing re- sources to meet the required investments. The consultants will examine and review plans and programs which have been drawn upon by the Territory Administration and will make use of preliminary studies already carried out for the Territory Admini- stration by Australian consultants. - 0 -