Deal Puts Kokoda Back On Track
The Age
Thursday April 24, 2008
THE RSL has welcomed a breakthrough deal that will protect Papua New Guinea's Kokoda Trail for future generations.
Returned and Services League national president Bill Crews said the agreement was the best possible outcome, recognising PNG sovereignty while deploying Australian capacity to protect the track."In particular, it should enhance the standard of living of villagers living along the track," Major-General Crews said. The agreement will preserve the historic and environmental values of the track, while encouraging the continuation of trekking. About 5000 people, mostly Australians, attempted to walk the 96-kilometre trail last year.The agreement was signed by Environment Minister Peter Garrett at a ministerial forum at Madang in PNG's Western Highlands. It commits Australia to contribute $14.9 million to help improve the livelihoods of local people and to assist the initial stages of listing the Kokoda Trail as a world heritage site.Basic services, including water, sanitation, health, education and transport, will be provided for those living along the track, as well as a guarantee of a better share of the income generated from trekking. The agreement does not directly ban mining, but it does recognise the Brown River catchment as an important future water and power supply opportunity for Port Moresby."It appears that at this stage they won't allow mining," Major-General Crews said. Australian company Frontier Resources had sought to develop a gold and copper mine that would have impinged on several hundred metres of what may have been part of the main war-time track.The Kokoda Trail was one of World War II's toughest battlefields, where hundreds of Australian soldiers died turning back a Japanese offensive aimed at capturing Port Moresby.? Footage of the Anzac Day dawn service at Gallipoli will be available for live broadcast on all Australian television networks, after ABC Television yesterday backed away from its demands for delayed coverage. The ABC, which is transmitting footage of major international Anzac Day events back to Australia, had been in discussions to provide the live footage to other networks with the proviso they delay the broadcast.ANZAC DAY REUNIONS? Where to meet PAGE 8
© 2008 The Age
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