Gurney terminal and works groundbreaking

Prime Minister James Marape says a new Gurney Airport Terminal and associated works targeting international flights should restart Milne Bay’s aspirations as a leading tourist destination for PNG.

Aside from a ground-breaking ceremony for this purpose, he also launched NAC’s phase 2 of the Civil Aviation Development Investment Project/ CADIP.

Mr Marape says if there’s any province that has the whole tourism package, its Milne Bay, and a new Airport Terminal should be the driving force in giving countries like Fiji a run for their money.

He was speaking at today’s launch of the K76.8 million upgrade works to the Gurney Airport Terminal.

The work will include several upgrades.

The Prime Minister also officially launched the second phase of the Civil Aviation Development Investment Project/ CADIP under the National Airports Corporation.

The first phase launched in 2010 was instrumental in upgrade works to at least 10 airports thus far at a cost of K1.6billion and under this second tranche, Gurney is the first, to be followed by Aropa, Kuinga, Wewak, and Hoskins.

Gurney is the first upgrade under CADIP 2 by the National Airports Corporation supported by the Asian Development Bank.

The K76.8million contract for Gurney has been awarded to the China Railway Construction Engineering Group Co. Ltd to include work on the asphalt surface on all existing and new aircraft pavements, widening of the existing apron to accommodate operations that include Fokker 100, Boeing 737, and the Air Nuigini's new A220 jet aircraft, a new state of the art Terminal Building equipped with improved passenger and cargo facilities and a new airfield lighting system for night operations.

Project commencement is set for next week and anticipates delivery to the people of Milne Bay in just over two years.

Aside from the launch of CADIP2, the occasion will also see the signing of an MOA between NAC and the Milne Bay Provincial Government for partnership in the project upgrade implementation and a tripartite MOU between NAC, the Milne Bay Provincial Government and the PNG Fire Service for airport safety and compliance.