News: BPP Board members told to live up to expectations
Today marked the swearing in ceremony of the new members of the Bougainville Physical Planning (BPP) Board under the Department for Lands, Physical Planning, Environment and Conservation at the administration conference room.
The board consists of nine new members who pledge their oath and are currently at the induction workshop about the roles and responsibilities of the board members.
Minister for Lands, Physical Planning, Environment and Conservation, Hon. Rober Hamal Sawa, MHoR congratulated the new members of the BPP Board but also cautioned them to work within the confines of the BPP Act 2013.
“Let me applaud all of you as the new BPP Board members who will meet as second lot of the members after enactment of the Physical Act in 2013. Please note that you will be listed in the ABG’s book as the second batch of the Board members who were chosen to form the BPP Board under the BPP Act 2013 on the 27th of February 2021.”
He said that: “As new members of BPP Board let me caution you to operate within the confines of the BPP Act 2013. You all are expected to deliberate on all BPP Board agenda items for new development initiatives upon its merits and within the context of the Physical Planning requirements as detailed in the BPP regulations and from the technical advice provided to you by the ABG DLPPEC Physical Planners.”
Hon. Sawa is aware that the members are new while others have served in the Board under the old regime. “I am aware that some of you are new to the BPP Board whilst others have served in the Board under the old regime of the ABG public service using the PNG Physical Planning Act 1998 as an instrument to anchor your decisions and teeth to control guide and direct new development initiatives.”
Hon. Sawa said that there were many expectations of the BPP Board members and mentioned them as;
1.Applications for rezoning.
BPP Board members are to appreciate the development trend of a growing town, the environmental impact of a development, its relationships and compatibility to the surroundings, the nature of development the rezoning will trigger and how it will harmonise with the development growth of the emerging urban centre.
2.Applications for new development initiatives
BBP Board members are to make decisions depending on the merits of this category using physical planning tools to establish the ideal proposition which will encourage and foster sound economic development but within the context of user friendly and environmental sustainability concepts.
3.Applications for Urban Development Leases.
To facilitate for harmonious and an integrated approached, this category of application will be an enabler to private involvement in the very small percentage (3%) 0f state land. In this category a good proportion of state land may be granted to private investors for new development initiatives. You are expected to consider this category of applications on its merits with clear insight on user friendly, harmonious relationships. When considerations are base on economical sustainability, the nature of development must complement all fonts including the financial capacity and the developer’s capabilities in the land development arena. To encourage all forms of development specific judgmental considerations must be giving to all developers on equal footing so to maximize equal opportunities with the intention to enable all of the potential developers to excel going forward.
4.Applications for redevelopment
BPP Board members are to be cautious to the immediate environmental surroundings and the nature of development, its aesthetical appearance and its impact on the growth of the urban centre. Hence, any decision has to be based on physical surroundings, sound economic considerations and environmental sustainable concepts.
The BPP Board members were encouraged to continue to perform their task with due diligence, by embracing transparency, good governance as virtues of good leadership without fear or favor from external forces.
“May your conduct and performance be of excellent standard for Bougainville to achieve good design forms that will enable well-articulated frame work of towns and district centres,” he said.
Ends
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