Work on upgrading the Honiara International Airport is now at its ten (10) percent implementation stage.
That's according to the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Communication and Aviation Moses Virivolomo during a live radio talk-back show on Sunday based on the theme ‘Future of Tourism.’
The PS said a team from the Prime Minister Office is expected to visit the project site soon to see how the project is progressing.
“That's when some of the pictures about the project will be made public,” he said.
He explained the upgrade work will involve the construction of a new departure terminal, expansion of the apron that can cater for four jets at one time, and accommodate increased international arrivals.
Its understood work will also involve the extension of the runway and refurbishing of the current international and domestic terminals.
The Honiara International airport is jointly funded by the Japanese Government and Solomon Islands Government.
Meanwhile, the PS also told the talk-back that work on constructing a new terminal for Munda airport will start this week.
Further work will also involve the extension of the runway.
Both the Government and New Zealand Government are supporting the project in Munda.
Meantime in separate development news, the contractor of the Mamara New Capital City will soon unveil three different model houses for public display and viewing.
The unveiling of the houses will take place in a ground-breaking ceremony at the Mamara- Tasivarongo- Mavo development site.
The model houses will represent the three different types of houses to be built for public servants.
The Permanent Secretary of Commerce, Industry, Labour, and Immigration Riley Mesepitu has revealed that the model houses will give the impression of the types of houses the contractor is going to build for public servants.
The ground-breaking ceremony will be a revelation as the contractor will demonstrate its ability and know-how to build modern and decent houses for public servants.
It is understood that public servants will be able to secure the houses through loan schemes obtained from lending institutions.
Mr. Mesepitu explained that the current high cost of rental in town has forced a lot of public servants to be housed in derelict and poorly furnished houses or forced them to settle in not- so- conducive environments
Mr. Mesepitu said the proposed housing estate would address some of the housing issues faced by public servants.
The Mamara- Tasivarongo- Mavo development is recognized through an Act of parliament known as the Mamara- Tasivarongo- Mavo Agreement Act.
The Act, amongst other things, details the manner in which development will occur on the stretch of Mamara- Tasivarongo- Mavo land.
The Act gives certain powers to a council that is charged with the responsibility to oversee the development of the area.
The development starts this year after more than 25 years of stalemate.
The proposed ground-breaking ceremony in about two weeks’ time will signify the formal starting of the development and construction of the proposed Mamara New Capital City.
At Kira Kira, making use of funds from the Government’s
Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) program, a ramp is nearly 50 percent completed with piling and installation of pile caps, beams, and slabs on two bays from the end of the ramp already finished
Bad weather is believed to have slowed down the construction work but it is expected the ramp will be completed by the end of March 2021.
