Month: September 2015

Lae, Morobe Province, PNG, 24^th September, 2015 – The Lae Botanic Gardens are abuzz with activity the likes of which the gardens haven’t seen in years. Dekenai Constructions Ltd. have come on board as a major sponsor of the Advancement Program and have wasted no time in supplying machinery, workers and engineering expertise to regrade all the roads within the gardens, create new car park areas and lend a helping hand with rubbish and wood removal, drainage, clearing waterways and much more.

The work has been undertaken over the last two weeks and is currently continuing intermittently in many areas within the gardens. Dekenai have provided labour with 10 employees, and several machines including a grader, tipper trucks, backhoe and roller to improve the road network and create more space for vehicles to park and drive once the gardens reopen. Prior to Dekenai’s input, some roads were unusable due to degradation and potholes, and areas for parking were overgrown. Now, with their support and expertise, the gardens have space for approximately 50+ cars, the roads have been levelled, widened and in some cases cleared so as to be usable again. Having heavy machinery in the gardens has also meant Dekenai have been able to assist in clearing garden rubbish, widen and clean up the overgrown waterways and transport gravel and dirt to areas in need.

Delilah Yagama, the Lae Senior Projects Engineer with Dekenai Constructions Ltd. has been overseeing the work in the gardens and is happy with the progress made, ‘Dekenai have been working in Lae for the last 7 years and it really motivates us to be able to give something back to the Lae community. The guys really enjoy working here and I love coming to visit, it is a peaceful and beautiful place to work, so we want the rest of the community to be able to enjoy it as well.’

Dekenai will also assist in the much-needed upgrading of a bridge within the gardens and have pledged to do what they can to continue assisting the Advancement Program. As Dave Howell, Dekenai’s regional manager said, ‘Dekenai’s founders have a long history of working in PNG and it is very much part of our company mission and values to support the communities in which we work as much as we can.’

Dr. Martin Golman, Acting Director of the PNG Forest Research Institute has been overwhelmed by the assistance stating, ‘the change in the gardens in just two short weeks is incredible. Dekenai have not only fixed areas that have long needed fixing, but also improved them to ensure the gardens will function better than ever when reopened. Their generosity of providing time, expertise and labour to the progression of the Advancement Program has gone a long way in restoring the gardens to their former glory. Our team are more inspired than ever to get these gardens opened, as we can’t wait for people to see the improvements. Our heartfelt thanks to Dekenai for their continued support.’

Dekenai Constructions Ltd. is a civil engineering contractor with vast experience in carrying out civil works in Papua New Guinea. Since its incorporation in 1995, Dekenai Constructions Limited has built and maintained its reputation as a major Civil Engineering Contractor, specialising in the construction of roads, bridges, drainage structures, pavement and sealing works. For more information see http://www.dekenai.com.pg/.

 

Lae, Morobe Province, PNG, 4^th September, 2015 – In another exciting development, Swire Shipping has generously contributed PGK70,000 towards the Lae National Botanic Gardens Advancement Program. It is the largest monetary donation the program has received to date and will go a long way in restoring the gardens to their former glory.

Swire Shipping has always been supportive of the Advancement Program and this donation of PGK70,000 solidifies their commitment to a better future for the gardens. It also reflects Swire Shipping’s broader commitment to assist in sustainable development to build better communities in their regions of operation.

These funds will be used for the development of four world-class garden designs that will be placed within the gardens to showcase PNG’s natural beauty, culture and diverse plant life, and to draw visitors back to the gardens once it reopens later this year. Renowned design company, Garden City Design Co. have been engaged for the task and planning has already commenced.

Acting Director of the PNG Forest Research Institute, Dr. Martin Golman was present on Friday to receive the giant cheque, stating ‘the Advancement Program relies heavily on the generous support of the business community. Swire Shipping has been a partner in the program from very early days and has in fact been instrumental in bringing this program to life. I would like to acknowledge the significant contribution Swire Shipping has made.’ Tim Blackburn from The China Navigation Company (CNCo) went on to say ‘this is a great example of how a business house of Lae can successfully partner in the implementation of the Advancement Program. I would encourage other businesses to come on board and get involved.’

It was also a significant day for CNCo as incumbent Managing Director, Tim Blackburn handed over the reigns to incoming Managing Director James Woodrow, both excited to see the progress that has already been made in the gardens, as James Woodrow commented, ‘Swire is proud to support the Lae Botanic Gardens and to work with the rest of the Lae community to make it a highlight of Lae life that everyone can be proud of, it is a fantastic space. Swire will continue to lead efforts to get the whole community behind this project for the long term.’

 

About Swire Shipping

Swire Shipping is the liner shipping division of The China Navigation Company (CNCo), the deep-sea shipping arm of the multinational Swire Group. CNCo has provided regional shipping services between Australia and the Asia-Pacific region since 1883.

Swire Shipping operates multiple liner trades in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, North America and the island nations of the South Pacific, in addition to providing services to India, the Middle-East and Europe. Swire Shipping operates a versatile fleet of multipurpose ships capable of carrying a wide range of cargoes including containerised, refrigerated, project, breakbulk and heavylift cargoes.

For more information on CNCo and Swire Shipping, please visit www.swirecnco.com.

 

We all see her as we drive around Lae going about our business; she is worthy of a glance and perhaps a sad sigh at her current state. Sitting in the Southwest corner of the Botanical Gardens, the DC3 plane is looking a little worse for wear these days. The RAAF DC3 is an important member of the Lae community and representative of the part played by PNG in WWII, it is high time she was given the attention she deserves.

 

Thanks to the efforts of many people and businesses, the National Botanic Gardens Lae Advancement Program is at full throttle, and we are pleased to announce the establishment of a DC3 steering committee that is joined by members of the Lae community, businesses and plane enthusiasts to give our DC-3 the proper treatment, with the first meeting taking place on the 20^th August, 2015.

 

A love of planes is not the only thing that has bought this committee together; it is also a passion for the growth of Lae through business networks, infrastructure development and tourism. It also provides an excellent opportunity to capture the history of the plane and the operations and events of WWII in this region, not to mention an added attraction for people to see when the gardens re-open later this year.

 

The inaugural meeting led to many great outcomes including the formation of four working groups within the committee to look after the key areas of Technical Advice to ensure accuracy in the restoration of the plane; Plane Covering to coordinate the building of a shelter to protect the plane from the elements; Plane History to collate and document information on the plane, it’s history and use during WWII and Documentation of plans, archival footage and the process of restoration.

 

The committee is made up of several interested individuals and businesses including the Friends of the Lae Botanic Gardens, PNGFRI, Swire Shipping, Trans Marine, Northbuild PNG, AHI Hope Foundation, Riback, Unitech and Coca Cola Amatil (CCA). Other companies that may be involved in this restoration include; Dulux Paint, Digicel, Defence, Lae Builders & Contractors (LBC).

 

This treasured RAAF DC-3 is in good hands with a bright future ahead of her, and if you or your business is interested in contributing to the restoration, or the wider Lae Botanic Garden Advancement Program, please contact the Curator, Michael Lovave at the PNG Forestry Research Institute on 472 1041 or 472 4188 or email mlovave@fri.pngfa.gov.pg.