Incomplete K32 Million Balimo Airport Project

The Balimo airstrip project in Middle Fly district was a K32 million contract assigned to Eda Civil Works back in February 2013. The Contract was signed by Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio, Middle Fly MP Roy Biyama, acting secretary for Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management Shadrach Himata and representatives of contractor Eda Civil Works PNG Ltd.
At the formal signing of the contract at the Government house, Biyama commended the government for approving the funds, which would be used for the construction phase of the project.
He said the project submission was initiated in 2004 & the total funding needed for the completion of the project was K70 million and he was confident that additional funding would be provided by the PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd for the second phase of the project which is the upgrading and sealing of the airport.
He reiterated that the airport would ensure accessible air transport in and out of Balimo.

The assigned contractor Eda Civil Works PNG Ltd estimated the time of completion of the project would be 19 months. From an inspection revealed that the first stage of work which is fencing, extension of the strip and gravelling fell short of 100 meters and has remained stagnant with the contract period having lapsed.

The contractor halting its work & Mr. Biyama gone silent for the past four years has plunged into despair of travelling routes. Only means to travel by air is by Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) through Kawito to Daru or Hagen and Tropicair to Port Moresby.

There are other attributing factors that are plunging into despair of Balimo town but what stands out is the closure of the airstrip in 2013.