Page 15 - IB June 2017

Development

FisheriesDevelopment
Chaotic Melanesia FisheriesDevelopment FisheriesDevelopment
Is Melanesia the new Asia with its chaotic traffic ills
n From PAGE 23 the main road that links the capital Suva
The bulk of the growth in the number
to its airport town of Nausori, a 20km road
of vehicles in Fiji and the consequence which will be a four-lane thoroughfare WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY
worsening of traffic is obviously the high when completed. IB sought the views of two of the and cost recovery, unlicensed driving, and
volume of new vehicle imports. near Honiara’s CBD with funding from Pacific’s urban planning experts on better road infrastructure to cope with the
Huge road works are also in progress
Imports of new vehicles for rental and
hire cars recorded the highest growth in the Japanese Government. The Kukum Melanesia’s chaotic urban traffic traffic volumes. As a short term initiative, the
Forum agreed to source some expertise in
the years 2001 to 2014 with a 706 per Highway upgrade is costing SB$213million woes, its causes and probable solu-
cent jump. New vehicle imports for taxis (US$27.3m) to provide for a four-lane tions. Sara Mecartney works in Port traffic planning and management to assess
recorded a 337 per cent rise, and imports highway. “This, however, is not expected Vila, Vanuatu while Mere Naulumatua existing problems and propose short and
longer term solutions. Monitoring outcomes
of government vehicles had a 205 per to completely solve the traffic congestion is based in Suva, Fiji. of this decision need to be followed up at
cent jump. Comparatively, Solomon Islands had in Honiara. Further upgrade of the rest of city level..
Honiara’s main trunk road both east and
IB: What are your views on traffic
NAULUMATUA: There are only 2 ways to
modest growth of vehicle imports. Still, west side of Honiara is necessary as well conjestion in these Melanesian cities? go from one end of the Greater Suva Area
120 used vehicles imported each month as provision of an inner bypass road,”
is a major cause of traffic congestion par- Undersecretary Nuake added. MECARTNEY: My quick views on traffic (GSA) to the other. I’m not too sure how bus
Morning traffic into Suva at Four Miles. ticularly in Honiara’s single main road that “A short measure now is to regulate congestion – this is increasing in Melane- scheduling goes in the GSA but it seems
everyone (children and adults) all start their
Photo: Samisoni Pareti links downtown Honiara to Henderson public buses - licence routes to restrict sia’s Capital cities (I’ve included Port Vila business day at 8:00am. Hence traffic jams.
International Airport. public buses in the central part of Ho- for this) and has been named consistently
“Two years ago, the number of vehicles niara. Regulating licences is the role of HCC Surely there are EXPRESS Suva Nausori
(earlier in some cases). On the surface, this
Aerial view ... afternoon traffic crawls along the Kinoya back road from Suva to Nausori. Photo: GuruMedia imported into the country was close to 90 (Honiara City Council). The Infrastructure as a local government priority since 2008 buses. I wonder if there are buses that only
do loops e.g. around Makoi, around Nasinu.
vehicles a month,” said Jimmy Nuake, Development Ministry has assisted HCC in is partially due to rapid population growth
Undersecretary (Technical) with Solomon determining the bus routes but it is the role It appears all buses head for either Suva or
Islands’ Ministry of Infrastructure Devel- of HCC to implement such policy.” and demand for mobility; an increased Road works continue in Honiara, Solomons Islands. Photo: Priestly Habru Nausori. Some buses routes can easily be
number of private and public vehicles,
redesigned to make a loop without having
opment. “Today, the latest statistics from PNG equally has invested heavily into dated road network systems that have not to reach the Suva Bus Stand.
Inland Revenue and Customs indicated new roads including the construction of a been upgraded with other infrastructure
Definitely need bus lanes. This has been
a figure close to 120 vehicles a month. flyover that links the capital’s international (bridges, schools, medical centres, resi- talked about in transport forums and now
These vehicles if stacked together along airport Jackson to downtown Moresby. dential areas etc), poor public transport we need to see some real work in carried out.
The city’s municipal authority, the Na-
of road,” he said.
by Samisoni Pareti the highway, would take up close to 1km tional Capital District Commission (NCDC) systems and weak traffic management.
NAULUMATUA: I’d prefer if you used the
IB: What should other towns/cities in
Same story in PNG where Road Traffic
AS an office worker in Suva, Fiji’s capital, Authority’s acting CEO Nelson Terema said with the support of the National Govern- Greater Suva Area (Lami-Nausori corridor) the islands learn from the experiences
Andy is used to spending a good part of her the import of 10,000 vehicles per year is in 2013 with K400 million (US$126m) the Greater Suva Area that’s troublesome of Suva, Honiara and Port Moresby?
ment decided to build seven new roads
as your city for Fiji because its the traffic in
morning and afternoon stuck in bumper- fuelling road mayhem in the country’s main funding from the national budget and Peak hour traffic into Suva Photo: Samisoni Pareti Police monitor traffic in Port Moesby Photo: Sam Vulum
MECARTNEY: Fix the potholes (catch 22
to-bumper traffic. cities. Total number of vehicles in PNG is K300 million (US$94.4m) soft loan from and not Suva City alone. tion planning and management are distinct opment. 2). Provisions for private vehicle with roadworks slowing traffic flow)

“That’s my life story,” she commented between 100,000 to 120,000. A statement the EXIM Bank of China. IB: What is this indicative of? Is it in their absence. As with urbanisation (plan- parking and taxi parking takes priority over
on social media. Crowded city ... Gordon’s bus stop in Port Moresby Peak hour ... traffic jam in Honiara from PNG Ports said from 2011 to 2014, The roads included Gerehu to Hanu- - Introduce paid parking and enforce
Another working mum, Violet, joins her Photo: Sam Vulum Photo: Priestly Habru the number of new and second-hand abada four-lane 10.7 km road built at the to do with uncontrolled population ning and management), it would appear larger bus bays in high density shopping ar- compliance with traffic laws and regulations
decision makers) can change this mindset
and collaborative approach is neglected by
increase (as people can afford to own
soldier husband and three children as early traffic flow reducing to a crawl every day from the country’s Bureau of Statistics vehicles imported had remained steady cost of K196million (US$61.7m) ; Gerehu increase? Poor planning? Wealth any challenge that requires a multi-modal eas. If we (developers, approving authorities, - City transport planning – for longer term
as six o’clock for school drop-off before of the week. Some areas of the city have showed a 60 per cent jump in the number despite the increase in duty. “The last four to 9 Mile four-lane 8km road (K122 mil- vehicles) Accelerated rural to urban those who are in positions to make positive to make connectivity of different modes impact, it will not have an immediate effect
years had seen 44,052 vehicles imported
- If doable, traffic reporting via radio so
heading to work to beat the morning traf- migration? Or is this is just a normal changes (and to lobby for better budgetary of transport smoother and safer, we’ll be drivers have option to change route and
become terribly congested that a trip that
lion (US$38.3m); Gordons Industrial
of registered motor vehicles in Fiji for the
fic. She is not due to start work until 8am. normally would have taken 10 minutes is 13 years from 2001. Phenomenal growth into PNG,” the statement said. “Rabaul in roads stage 2 (K85 million (US$27m); phenomenon expected out of a devel- allocations). Indeed, projecting demand by on the right path. We need to market walk- maintain free-flowing traffic
The story is no different to that of other taking half an hour. Others that would nor- was recorded during that period for vehicles East New Britain shipped in 878 vehicles Kookaburra road connecting Sir John Guise oping, growing city? urban populations does not feature promi- ing as being sexier than driving...of course
- Bus only lanes – keep them out of main
working mothers and fathers and school mally take 20 minutes are taking one and a classified as ‘carriers,’ which according between 2011 and 2014. Half of these were Drive to the Hubert Murray Highway with nently in any level of planning. It’s a lot easier within limits. traffic flow and safer for pedestrians
children living in Melanesian cities of Port half to two hours at the wrong time of the to our calculations registered a 2,783 per imported last year reflecting the growth the flyover at the Erima Junction (K160 MECARTNEY: Melanesia’s present ur- to list the problems than to derive practical NAULUMATUA: Yes, urbanisation is oc-
Vila, Honiara and Port Moresby. day,” writes Sam Vulum, editor of the The cent increase. From a recorded 12 carriers in demand for vehicles in the Islands re- million, (US$50.3m); Erima to 9 Mile 4.3 ban forms influence travel habits and pat- (and affordable) solutions to ease the traf- IB: How can traffic congestion, curring at a rapid rate and people equate
gion. Port Moresby and Lae Ports handled
terns. Our Pacific Capitals are coastal and
fic on the streets. The woe list stemming
km road with a four-lane bridge (K77
“Honiara is one of the worst unplanned Sunday Chronicle newspaper in Moresby. in 2003, total number of carriers in 2014 20,764 and 22,410 imported vehicles.” million, (US$24.2m); Morea Tobo 1.2km car ownership with prestige/success! Please
cities in the Pacific,” reports Island Sun Vila, the problem of Melanesia’s traffic ills rose to 346. With thousands of productive hours lost four-lane and 4.7 km two-lane roads (K57 often have limited options geographically from the high levels of congestion include growth challenges like these be better do the math and ask the real question of
Including the capital of Vanuatu, Port
The number of Government vehicles
newspaper publisher, Priestly Habru. “One in rush hour in Melanesia, island govern- million, US$17.9m); and the K50 million routes to ease congestion. For Suva, Ho- pollution that characterise the capitals land
handled?
longer journey times, costs, and increasing
to introduce arterial roads or alternate
the balance between cars (particularly used
does not need to look far from the traffic is blamed on poor planning. Vulum adds rose by 782 per cent, and other vehicles ments are scrambling to address the pan- (US$15.7m) 2 km Paga Hill ring road. cars) coming in and car going out? We are a
congestion in peak hours to see the poor unprecedented growth and population ex- including those registered for diplomatic demonium. Building new and wider roads NCDC Governor Powes Parkop had said niara and Port Vila who have mapped out transport. Capital Cities Forum (a collection of mayors) dumping ground for used Asian cars. True
MECARTNEY: In October 2010, the Pacific
tsunami evacuation routes – congestion
they may be electric lah lah, but servicing
planning of the Solomon Islands capital plosion as additional factors in PNG. Habru missions jumped by 264 per cent during seems to be the quick-fix answer with last December that five more new roads places the urban population at great risk NAULUMATUA: I’m going to go with poor nominated Transport Planning and Manage-
city.” on the other hand believes unrestraint the same period. Vehicles registered under road authorities in Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon will be constructed in Port Moresby once urban planning is the main issue. Urban ment as one of its seven key urban manage- their batteries and their disposal needs to be
The same is true for Port Moresby, capital imports of used vehicles is a big cause of private also increased by 73 per cent and Islands and PNG busy with major road funding becomes available. He said this with limited and compromised roads, not calculated. It is an environmental disaster.
of Papua New Guinea. “In peak hours, at traffic mayhem in the capital of Solomon 63 per cent for taxis. Rental and hire cars upgrade projects. will happen when they secure K300 million to mention emergency services. planning in Fiji has been geared towards the ment issues. The challenges identified by the Electrical cars only work best when they are
vehicular use and not the pedestrian use/
Whilst national governments may focus
driven less than 55km/ hour.
Forum included increased traffic congestion
almost every intersection and roundabout, Islands. This is also true for Fiji. Figures obtained also recorded a 157 per cent rise. aging a F$600million (US$289 million) (US$94.4m) loan from Bank South Pacific. on improved connectivity and infrastruc- walkability. 1). Pedestrian pathways and and numbers of second hand vehicles, inad- r spareti@islandsbusiness.com
Fiji Road Authority for instance is man-
Additional material: Sam Vulum in Port Mo-
vehicles queue up bumper-to-bumper with ture investment/intervention, transporta- safety is the last thing considered in devel- equate road planning, parking availability
n Continued overleaf
and one of its major product is widening resby and Priestly Habru in Honiara
Islands Business, April 2017 23 24 Islands Business, April 2017 Islands Business, April 2017 25
Island Business’ coverage of Melanesia’s traffic chaos in our April edition.
Prize for
progress
by Geoffrey Smith
Before first light, not a car in sight,
Families frantic trying to beat
traffic
Port Moresby, Vila, Honiara to
Nausori,
Everywhere it’s the same story
Passengers dozing, buses packed
Bumper to bumper, Priuses stacked
Morning rush reduced to a crawl Top: Honiara. Above: Suva to Nausori afternoon traffic at the Kinoya back road. Photo: Photo: GuruMedia
Stuck in first gear, may as well
take a stroll
Happy taxman, insurance and
banks
Idling engines, draining fuel tanks
Busy mechanics and spare parts
booming
Time to follow Nauru and Tuvalu,
with bikes zooming
Rising oil price curses, emptying
purses
Crawling jams, buying time for
exams,
Smoke emissions, allowing student
revisions
Running late? The boss can wait!
Let’s not complain or debate, “Why
not trains?”
Pacific road congestion stress, our
prize for progress.
Honiara rush. Photo: Priestly Habru. Inset: Port Moresby traffic. Photo: Sam Vulum. Morning traffic in Suva. Photo: Samisoni Pareti
Islands Business, May 2017 15