Hidden Valley Joint venture welcomes cooperative approach

Caption: Mining Minister Hon John Pundari and MP for Wau, Bulolo Hon Sam, Watut Union members, MMJV, Morobe provincial representatives after signing the joint press release

The Hidden Valley Joint Venture (HVJV) welcomed the outcomes of a stakeholder meeting held in Port Moresby on May 12,  2011,  that discussed constructive solutions to community concerns relating to the Hidden Valley Mine.

The HVJV would like to thank the Minister for Mining, Hon. John Pundari MP for coordinating the meeting and acknowledge the cooperative approach taken by all attendees, including key government departments, the Member for Bulolo, Hon Sam Basil, Watut River community leaders and the HVJV. 

In the spirit of this cooperative approach, the HVJV has agreed to stop using the statutory declaration form as part of the voluntary garden compensation process.

The HVJV will instead use an amended version of the current 'Damages Assessment Payment Receipt Form' to document all future payments under the voluntary garden compensation process.

The use of a receipt is a normal, responsible and transparent approach as it provides all parties with written evidence that the compensation amount has been agreed and received.

As agreed at last week's stakeholder meeting, the HVJV will now revisit the remaining 471 Watut River landowners who have not received compensation in order to finalise the voluntary garden compensation process.

The HVJV has already paid compensation of K3.8 million to 3,700 Watut River landowners for flood damage to crops and gardens, to which mine related sediment may have contributed, along with natural events including land slips and major rain events.

The HVJV will regard all forms already signed by Watut River landowners as being the same as the amended receipt form. Therefore, landowners who have already received compensation do not need to sign a new form.

The process for the voluntary garden compensation payments will continue the current robust and transparent approach which involves a claim submitted from the affected landowner, followed by a damage assessment.

The damage assessment is conducted by a multi-party team comprising HVJV employees, Morobe Provincial Government or Bulolo District Office representatives, LLG representatives and the claimant/landowner of the affected property.

The HVJV remains committed to continued constructive dialogue with its key stakeholders, including the national, provincial and local level government, community leaders and the local community in order to resolve remaining community issues.

Media inquiries:

David Wissink Hidden Valley Joint Venture Mobile: (675) 7100 2406 Email: david.wissink@morobejv.com

Background

The Hidden Valley Mine is operated by the Hidden Valley Mine Joint Venture (HVJV) a  50:50 Joint Venture between Harmony Gold of South Africa and Newcrest Mining of Australia.

The Hidden Valley Mine is located near Wau and Bulolo in Morobe Province. It was officially opened in September 2010.

The Hidden Valley Mine has a workforce of more than 2,000 people with 95 per cent of workers being PNG Nationals and 50 per cent being from the local communities.

It is important to note that the Hidden Valley Mine has an engineered tailings storage facility and no mine processing residue, or tailings, is discharged into the river.

The mine related sediment in the river that has caused community concern was run-off from mine overburden and construction activities.

The mine transitioned from construction to operation in October 2010.

Mine sediment run-off is now significantly lower due to mitigation measures.

These measures included ceasing of side casting of waste rock and overburden in September 2009, ongoing revegetation of exposed slopes and erosion control, and the storage of waste rock in engineered waste rock facilities.

The HVJV places a high value on responsible environmental management and our relationship with local communities.

The HVJV has been making voluntary garden compensation payments to communities along the Watut River for flood damage to crops and gardens, regardless of whether this was due to additional sediment run-off from the mine construction activity or by natural events such as landslips and heavy rain.

To date, the HVJV has paid a total of K3.8 million to 3,700 Watut River landowners.

The voluntary garden compensation payments are in addition to the Hidden Valley Mine's existing sustainable development program which is bringing education support, agricultural skills, health programs and community facilities such as sanitation and water supplies, school classrooms, community halls and aid posts.

These programmess were developed in partnership with the local and provincial government and are aligned with their development programs.

An Expert Stakeholder Advisory Panel is also being established by the HVJV to provide independent review of sediment related issues and related community concerns.

Air Niugini commences regular commercial flights to Bulolo

Bulolo MP Sam Basil (left) and Air Niugini CEO Wasantha Kumarasiri are welcomed off the inaugural Air Niugini Dash 8 flight to Bulolo by Watut dancers.-Picture by MALUM NALU

 

By MALUM NALU

 

The historical mining town of Bulolo, Morobe province, took another giant step forward today with the commencement of twice-weekly Air Niugini flights between Port Moresby and Bulolo.

The first batch of passengers on board the Dash 8 flight to Bulolo yesterday – led by Air Niugini CEO Wasantha Kumarasiri and Bulolo MP Sam Basil - was greeted by management and staff of PNG Forest Products, which owns the land on which the Bulolo Airport is built; Morobe Mining Joint Ventures; Bulolo administration; as well as hundreds of local people who braved pouring rain to be present for the occasion.

The Bulolo service, which will be every Monday and Friday, promises to greatly boost business and tourism in Bulolo, as well as the surrounding electorates of Menyamya, Huon, Markham and Lae.

Air Niugini's introduction of flights follows on from Airlines PNG in 2009.

"Bulolo is a very ideal destination with a high demand for air transportation from the local communities," Kumarasiri said.

"Due to the current activities in Bulolo, we consider it is our duty as the national airline to provide the air services to the local and business communities in Bulolo.

"Apart from the mining activities, there are also other operations and activities that certainly call for further air transportation.

"To name a few, we have the PNG Forest Products Ltd, BSP, Post PNG, Bulolo Forestry College, the Micro Bank, the district administration, which certainly demands for an increase in air transportation.

"As the national flag carrier, Air Niugini has a community service obligation to serve the people of Papua New Guinea.

"Therefore, Air Niugini's operation into Bulolo also means that the local people of Wau/Bulolo can now travel direct from Bulolo to Port Moresby instead of travelling via Lae."

Basil said history was rewriting itself as Bulolo was once one of the busiest airfields in the world during the gold rush days of the 1920s and 30s.

He said his joint district planning and budget priorities committee would commit K50, 000 subsidies for vegetable freight and return airfares.

"We would also look at building the staff quarters and ticket purchasing office for Air Niugini to be owned by the district administration, which will benefit from the rental proceedings," he said.

"I also call on Menyamya people, Wanpar people and people from my district to utilise this service because extra seats are now available.

"We do not have to drive all the way to Nadzab to catch a plane, as it is now at our doorstep."

Guinness challenges Bulolo people to take responsibility

Caption: Peter Guiness laying down the law on yesterday

 

The basic cornerstone to a peaceful and law abiding community begins in the family unit.

This was the challenge Morobe provincial police commander, chief superintendent Peter Guinness laid down for the people of Mumeng in the Bulolo district who had gathered to witness the launch of their district bulldozer in Bangalum yesterday.

Guinness provided the response following comments from the crowd wanting to ascertain what police action had been taken regarding the weekend ethnic outbreak and other law and order incidents over the last few months.

According to Morobe's top police officer, lawlessness in society was a responsibility for every citizen in any given locality and should not be thrust upon law enforcement agencies alone.

Following the two deaths that came about as a result of payback intentions, Guinness urged the crowd to seriously think in terms of the consequences of any actions or thoughts prior to carrying them out.

"Think about your family before you give in to the pressures of other people or joining other groups.

"Ask yourself who will look after your sons?

"Who will take care of your wives and care for your daughters before deciding to join unlawful activities?"

Guinness said the most- recent ethnic situation and the many other similar incidents seen in Bulolo were a result of youths not having respect for the law and for society at large.

"Where do these values start?

"They start with you and me as responsible adults, we have the responsibility to teach them – our children and young ones - the values of respect for society, respect for the rule of law and respect for life."

Referring to the two deaths, Guinness urged the people not to waste their lives in vain for something that could so easily have been avoided had the two men not tried to payback or get involved.

He said it was very clear there was a shortage of police men and women across the country and therefore urged the people to take it upon themselves to do the right things and exercise more responsibility starting in the home and family in order to give themselves and the communities they lived in a chance for the better.

"We are our own worst enemies.

"We create incidents and expect the police and other law-enforcement agencies to fix the problems that we have failed to be proactive about.

"If we are serious about maintaining the rule of law and order in our societies, then we should start in our homes, our clans our tribes and our communities now."

2 die, 13 hurt in Bulolo fight

By JAYNE SAFIHAO

 

TWO people are dead, 13 others hospitalised and eight homes have been torched after a retaliatory attack in Bulolo, Morobe, on Saturday afternoon, The National reports.

Of all those hospitalised with pellet wounds, eight were in critical condition.

Confirming the incident, Morobe provincial police commander Peter Guinness said the deaths, injuries and destruction stemmed from a drunken brawl allegedly involving a man from Finschhafen living at the Madang block and another from Patep near Mumeng.

Guinness said the fight started late in the evening at Bulolo market after the two men had a heated argument.

He said a fight ensued in which the Patep man was beaten and suffered injuries.

He then mobilised his supporters and converged on Madang block where the Finschhafen people live and set alight eight houses, which were razed.

The settlers retaliated and shot at their attackers.

He said when that group started to burn the houses down, they were turned upon and shot at by the mixed group of settlers living at Madang block.

Fifteen casualties were reported; 13 were in critical condition at the Bulolo Hospital.

Of the two dead, one succumbed to pellet injuries and the second was chopped up.

Guinness confirmed that a police task force team from Lae had been dispatched to the area to monitor the situation and prevent further unrests.

He said controlling guns in Bulolo was a real challenge because this was one area in the country where World War II ammunition for .303 rifles, 7.6mm and 40mm heavy artillery could be found in abundance.

"These are very dangerous for both the enemy and the attacker," Guinness said.

He also expressed concern that it was becoming difficult to tell if a gun was acquired lawfully or made at home.

Bulolo police were also having vehicle problems and could not maintain daily routine patrols.

 

Greater partnerships and dialogue needed for tangible development and progress

Caption: Minister Pundari receiving a bilum from the women of Bangalum in appreciation for attending the launching 

 

Greater partnerships, constructive dialogue and honest discussions were the key messages given to the people of Mumeng and especially the Middle Watut communities during the launching of a dozer for the Mumeng LLG.

This was given by Mining Minister,  John Pundari to the people who were gathered to witness the occasion including, the Bulolo district administration, Mumeng local level government representatives,  people of Middle Watut and union president, Rueben Mete,  were gathered at Bangalum to witness the launching yesterday.

The minister was responding to calls from Mete regarding sedimentation issues affecting the Watut River and potential litigation action against the Hidden Valley Mine by the Bulolo District.

Pundari told the people gathered that there was nothing wrong with serving the interests and fighting for the needs of the people where genuine national interest was concerned.

"Taking up a cause for the interests of communities is an honourable thing to do provided our intentions are genuine – but also taking into consideration that we need to sit down with concerned stakeholders and consider what the bigger picture is," he said.

The minister's comments were made following similar sentiments raised by Bulolo MP Sam Basil for more community consultation to forge a better and more-constructive path forward that would ultimately be decided by the people whether or not to pursue litigation or opt for infrastructure project developments.

Based on these sentiments, Pundari committed to meeting with 10 representatives, comprising five from the Watut union, five from the Mumeng LLG, including acting Bulolo district administrator, Tae Guambalek, Bulolo MP Sam Basil, Morobe Governor Luther Wenge and MMJV representatives to meet with Mineral Resources Authority, Department of Environment and Conservation and the minister in Port Moresby on May 11.

"Bearing in mind that projects like these come with sacrifice, we need to be able to sit down and face up to each other and these concerns in order find the right answers," Pundari said.

"It is our responsibility as the regulators to ensure that we are minimising the impacts to the extent that our people's livelihoods are not impacted and at the same time so that the operators of projects such as the Hidden Valley mine can operate without disruption in order for all of us to enjoy and maximise the benefits that projects of this scale can bring.

"Yes, there will be issues, yes there will be obstacles, but there are ways of overcoming them and that is what we should be focusing on as responsible leaders with the heart for our people and this country."

The planned meeting in Port Moresby will enable all key stakeholders to convene at a proper forum and "get the facts straight" regarding the Watut River concerns of sedimentation that have been raised in the media recently in order to find a better path to progress.

Lack of monitoring of the pollution levels in the Bulolo-Wau populace

Dear honourable Sam Basil,

Let me congratulate you for creating this web site.
It can't go without mention that internet is a very powerful and
efficient communication tool in this time and era.
For example I am curious in learning what is going on in the Bulolo
Wau area, and went online and search and sure enough this website
appeared.
Sir, something that has been troubling me is the unregulated level of
air and water pollution in your electorate.
I am a lecturer at Bulolo University College and have lived in the
valley for nearly 26 years.
Over this 26-year period, I have witnessed noticeable increase in air
and water pollution, however, we do not have any long-term research
data to qualify our observations.
I have witnessed and you will agree that PNG Forest plywood factory
has been pumping out smog and dumping acid waste into the creek
running between the Housing commission block and the plywood factory
since time immemorial.
The arrival of Hidden valley mine has potentially added a dozen other
types of air and water pollution to the environment.
Pollution issues such as how many tonnes of dust particles blown up
into the air resettle on roof tops and end up in the drinking tank
water of the local habitants, how much smog particles resettle on roof
tops and into the drinking water remains to
be understood by your office to impose a regulatory measures.
Data indicative of pollution levels can be obtained from simple inexpensive
experiments.
Bulolo University College has the expertise to design doable
experiments that can provide data on pollution levels.
Understanding the sources of pollutants and the risk levels is
essential to getting industries becoming accountable to ensuring clean
and environmentally acceptable practice.
Sir, Bulolo University College has expertise to initiate and
collaborate with your office to monitor and research on types and
levels of pollutants entering our natural ecosystems, and food web
(chain of energy transfers which link into human beings).

Tenk yu tru
Mangi Bulolo
Lawong Balun

Hidden Valley mine to provide K30, 000 diesel fuel for Mumeng dozer

 

 Caption:Mining Minister Hon John Pundari officially cuts the ribbon signifying the launching of the D3 bulldozer for Mumeng LLG.

 

Hidden Valley Mine will supply K30 000 worth of fuel assistance towards helping the Mumeng local level government's (LLG) district services improvement programme.

The undertaking was made in Sambio yesterday by Hidden Valley community affairs manager, Stanley Komunt, witnessed by Minister for Mines, Hon John Pundari, Bulolo MP Sam Basil, Mumeng LLG representatives and the people of Mumeng during the launching of the districts bulldozer – a continuation of Basil's capacity-building programme for the six LLGs in Bulolo district.

Komunt said the commitment from HVJV to help provide K30, 000 worth of fuel to the district was made after HVJV approached the MP and offered to partner with the district following numerous community requests, so that road access into the middle Watut areas could be re-established.

The bulldozer's first job will be to help –re-negotiate access for the only existing road into the middle Watut from Bangalum Bridge after a number of landslips had rendered the road impassable for vehicles about four years ago.

This would enable the communities living in the area to have much-needed and easier access through vehicle movements to the main highway as well as provide company access when delivering on planned community and regional development programmes.

Pundari commended Hidden Valley mine and MP Basil for coming together to help deliver services to the people of Mumeng LLG and Middle Watut.

"When a leaders' heart is in the right place, tangible developments occur and the people see real service delivery," he said.

The Mining Minister also acknowledged the Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare and his government for ensuring that all 89 districts were given their district support improvement programme (DSIP) funds, regardless of political alliances, opposition or government.

"Real leaders always place national interest and the needs of the people of this country at the forefront because they are mandated to do so by the people," he said,

Basil acknowledged the minister's presence and acceptance to attend the launching, including MMJV and the community for making time to attend.

 Currently, people of the Middle Watut walk very long distances, sometimes, travelling over two days before they reach the main highway or the river further below where they can then get canoes and travel downstream.

The recent fuel assistance will provide the basis for using the districts bulldozer to start work that will hopefully open much-needed access again for the people living along the middle Watut areas.