Local PM leads infrastructure rollout in Huon Gulf through bottom-up planning

A new teachers house built at a cost of K35,000 at Morobe Primary School in Huon Gulf District *(Image: Supplied)*

The Huon Gulf District is witnessing a wave of development under the bottom-up planning strategy, as key infrastructure projects were commissioned today in Morobe.

The approach, spearheaded by local MP Jason Peter, is designed to empower local leaders and communities by directly allocating development funds to LLG presidents [K1 million each] and ward councilors [K100,000 each] to identify and implement grassroots priorities.

At Morobe LLG Station, this approach has yielded tangible results where Peter led the commissioning of several new projects, including; two double classroom buildings, a four-bedroom teacher’s house, and groundbreaking for a six-in-one classroom block and two police houses.

Former Morobe LLG president Andrew Tera, who oversaw the use of Bottom-Up Planning funds during his tenure, commissioned the teacher’s house and praised the model for placing decision-making closer to the people.

“The strategy gives us the flexibility to target real needs in our communities. These are not top-down decisions, but priorities identified by locals themselves,” Tera said.

Double classroom at Eware Primary School *(Image: Supplied)*

Funding for the projects also came from the Huon Gulf District Development Authority [DDA], GTFF, and parent contributions, showcasing collaborative ownership at all levels.

The improvements breathe new life into Morobe Primary School, founded in 1952 and once a vital provincial center. Decades of neglect left the facility in disrepair until now.

“We are returning dignity and purpose to this school through proper infrastructure,” Hon. Peter said. “Bottom-Up Planning means no school, no village, and no LLG is too remote to be seen or served.”

The new police houses, once completed, will accommodate officers tasked with patrolling the Morobe–Oro maritime border, including Salamaua LLG waters, where piracy has been on the rise.

In addition to infrastructure, the strategy supports economic empowerment. The Minister for Community Development, Youth and Religion, announced the distribution of over 1 million cocoa seedlings, available for free to farmers along with training provided by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock.

He also confirmed new investments in the fisheries sector, as well as plans for the reconstruction of the Morobe LLG Jetty and negotiations for the return of the Rainforest Ship, both seen as key enablers of marine transport and trade.

Peter said the Morobe LLG success story highlights the potential of the bottom-up planning policy as a model for rural development in Papua New Guinea, emphasizing local solutions, community participation, and targeted investment.

“We’re not just building classrooms and houses,” Peter said. “We’re building ownership, leadership, and long-term resilience, starting from the bottom, where it matters most.”