“NADZAB AIRPORT RE-DEVELOPMENT PROJECT”

The major project that we'll be based on and do our assay write-up is basically on Nadzab Airport
Redevelopment Project which has been started in October 2015. Nadzab Airport is situated in the suburban
area of Lae City, the capital of Morobe Province, which has the second-largest population in Papua New
Guinea. The Nadzab Airport handles the second largest air passenger traffic and cargoes after Port Moresby's
Jackson's Airport. Since its existing facilities require large-scale improvements from a capacity and safety
perspective. The government of Papua New Guinea formally requested The Government of
Japan for assistance to rehabilitate the airport. This is a redevelopment project to upgrade the existing
Nadzab Airport to accommodate up to B767, B777, and B787 as alternate airport for Jackson's Airport. The
projects include widening and strengthening the existing runway, taxiway, and apron, and the construction of
new taxiways and apron. Improvement of aeronautical ground lights, new passenger terminal and admin
building, firefighting and rescue facilities, refurbishment of the existing terminal for Cargo and construction
of utilities for a fully functioning international airport.

The project is part of the National Airports Cooperation – Business Strategy to partner with stakeholders
including provincial governments to achieve 15 Smart Airport by 2030 in order to drive the national
government's aspiration for increased accessibility, economic growth and development. In 2012 PLANPAC
developed a Strategic Land Use Masterplan for Nadzab Central Strategic Plan, a business hub for Nadzab
Airport, with 700 hectares of Greenfield land on a 1,100-hectare site.

The purpose of re-developing Nadzab Airport is to facilitate and meet the future demands of air
transportation of international flights coming in and going out from the country and, our domestic flights
within the country. The main areas of re-development are; the construction of the terminal building, which
can accommodate the passengers from international and domestic flights. "The terminal will be an open-
door terminal; people will not be restricted from entering. This is so they can enjoy the spacious and modern
facilities with coffee shops and food, and electronic kiosks and ATM machines there," Nou Stated (Loop
PNG, March 21, 2023). Other areas are upgrading of the runway which will enable large planes from
overseas to land here at Nadzab Airport, and upgrading part of taxi ways to move in and out from the airport.
This project also aims to meet the future demand for air transportation at Nadzab airport and to establish an
alternate international airport for Port Moresby (Jackson's) international airport by accommodating large
wide-body jet aircraft, constructing an international and domestic new passenger terminal building, and

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upgrading associated facilities. This will improve the facilitation of air transportation and contribute to the
economic growth of PNG.

However, there few more reasons why we chose this project topic to write about it. Basically, it is an
ongoing and well-known project in the country. Thus, we need to write something about the things that we
have fair ideas about. Furthermore, this project targets Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) No. 8 –
Industrial, Innovation and Infrastructure as well as Goal No. 9 Decent Work and Economic Growth. This
project promotes development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation,
entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-small and
medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.

Before carrying out any development projects in local places or sites, there are always sustainable
development goals within a company for the co-workers to follow from the commencement of a particular
project to the end of the project. For the Nadzab Airport Redevelopment Project, environmental standards
are required with the current loss time injury. Therefore, noted that apart from other environmental
problems, the organization's sustainable development goals were focused on these main four environmental
aspects.
Sustainable Land Use and Biodiversity, Sustainable Waste Management, Deforestation, and Loss of
Vegetation and Food Insecurity

1. Land Use and Biodiversity

In order to redevelop/reconstruct an existing infrastructure in a particular area, it always comes with its own
issues regarding the land and its surrounding environment. The land belongs to the national government and
was allocated for future development. However, before any development commenced the locals were using
the land for farming and grazing cattle, for this reason, since the construction of the airport caused a lot of
issues concerning the local farmers there, thus resulting in the displacement of farm animals and so
disruption in the ecosystem as a whole. Therefore, the conversion of the ecosystem and degradation
contributes to the fragmentation of the habitat. By doing so habitat fragmentation on the biodiversity isn't
fully realized until it is fully degraded.
2. Waste Management (Disposal)

During the extension/redevelopment maintenance of the Lae Nadzab airport, most of the construction waste
have been produced in large quantities, however, the contractors failed to dispose it properly with respect to

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the surrounding environment thus directing the waste disposal pipeline into the nearby streams and
waterways. As a result, causing water pollution, air pollution, and land contamination which are some of the
main issues that have direct effects on the ecosystem in the long run.

3. Deforestation and Loss of Vegetation

During the phase of clearing the land for redevelopment, the vegetation has been lost drastically, this
contributes to deforestation which is one of the major issues concerning the environment. During
construction, all the trees and plants have been cleared leaving the land with hardly any vegetation. As it is
known, vegetation has its own natural process (photosynthesis), resulting in a balance of gases in the
ecosystem. Thus, destroying the plants and trees is nothing more than a direct destruction to the source of
oxygen and the natural system that counter-reacts the accumulating amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, this
causes the depletion of fresh air and an unbalanced increase in carbon-dioxide gas within the environment.

4. Food Insecurity (Crop Damaged)

Foods that are the main crops from the farms that are found near the construction site have been impacted
either directly or indirectly by the project's chemical releases. In the construction process of the project, a
huge amount of poisonous chemicals has been released into the surroundings via gaseous and liquefied
forms, these hazardous chemicals in their various states (either liquefied or gaseous) are then evaporated and
condensed up in the clouds for a certain period of time awaiting precipitation. During the stage of
precipitation, the condensed chemicals fall as acid rain on the farms (crops) and into the water tanks of the
homes. The crops are then harvested for food and the tank waters are being used for drinking and cooking in
the homes. This will have a tremendous impact on the food chain through biomagnification, henceforth it
can affect human food consumption.

At this point, some of the background of types of sustainability activities or practices the organization should
use to address these four identified environmental factors for the Nadzab and the surrounding communities.
Before organizations or companies carry out a particular construction plan or a development plan, there
should be some sort of sustainable practices set in place before the construction or development takes place.
The construction company is facing a growing challenge which is a balance between their construction and
operation with the safeguard of natural ecosystems and biodiversity conservation under pressure from their
activities. One of the environmental factors that should be considered, is the Biodiversity and Land Use. The
presence of wildlife at the project site which is Nadzab Airport and the surrounding operational areas is a

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safety hazard and a well-known risk for the company to consider and find sustainable practices to minimize
or control it.

To maintain biodiversity and land use, the organization carrying out the construction must consider these
factors before commencing their activities on a particular site or a piece of land, as a sustainable practice.
The landscape and the features of that environment. (Rainforest or grassland).

 The people living in that particular area. (Settlers or landowners).

 The farming activities they do on that piece of land and the livestock they graze.
 Is there any other suggestion for them to earn income and find food if their crops are destroyed?
 How will that piece of land look after the completion of the project (Natural and physical features)?

By looking at these factors the organization will come up with sustainable practices like controlling their
waste from spilling into creeks and water sources that people use. Another sustainable practice is to Plant
some trees of the same type in a forest before you cut down that forest and after the completion of the
project, all their construction waste must be removed and disposed in a waste facility.

The construction industry is a waste-intensive industry with the potential environmental impact at every step
in the process – extracting raw materials, manufacturing, transportation, construction, and disposal of
general and hazardous waste. To manage waste disposal the organization or company must have adequate
planning and order products in amounts that they will use and there will be no leftovers around as waste
after the project is completed. They should also store their working equipment in a proper place to avoid
weather conditions to cause damage on them, when something is damaged, it is of no use and left there as
waste. Construction sites also have the potential to generate hazardous waste due to the use of certain
chemicals, paint, and fuel that need to be responsibly disposed of at a hazardous waste facility. Hazardous
substances should also be stored in an impermeable area when not in use or disposed of. Plans for waste
disposal must give way to waste management.

Other sustainable practices to minimize waste disposal are as follows;

 Implementation – having a comprehensive waste management plan in place before construction

commences will be beneficial in the long run.
 Research Vendors – quality vendors will provide waste containers and/or have the flexibility to remove
recyclables and waste from the site as it is generated, to prevent waste build-up.

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  Recycling – placing recycling bins around the site will reduce the amount of waste collected in waste
skips/ cages
 Reduce Packaging – purchasing materials in bulk will reduce expense and waste from individually
packaged materials.
 Reuse Scraps – When possible, reuse scraps instead of cutting new materials.

 Organizations – A well-ordered construction site will produce less waste. Clearly outlining the site will
make it easier for workers to know where to dispose of different types of waste, increasing
productivity and efficiency.

Forests are one of the most important ecosystems on Earth. About 80 percent of the terrestrial plants, insects,
and animals call forests home and also nearly one-third of the people in the world depend directly on forests
for their livelihoods. In other parts of the world, people live in swamp areas where they also depend on
swamps in their own ways to survive. Therefore, when a development or construction project is about to
commence in a particular area there should be some sort of sustainable practice carried out like;

 Plant a Tree – most straightforward personal strategy to fight against deforestation is to plant a tree
when you cut down a tree.
 Practice eco-Forestry – is a restorative method of forest management, which is not based on economic
productivity. In this practice, selective trees are being cut down causing minimal damage to the rest of
the forest. If you own a piece of forest, follow this principle for they will pay you back in the long run
more than the profit focused on short-term forestry.
 Support Organizations that Fight Deforestation – numerous international and locally-focused
organizations strive to protect the forest from deforestation and apply sustainable forestry practices.

Food Insecurity is when there is not enough food in a family or a group of people to feed themselves. This
may be due to some reasons like, only one person in the family is employed, only one person in the family is
working hard while others are lazy or their source of food and income being damaged.

Regarding this matter, any organization or company should have sustainable practices in place before
carrying out their projects. People whose crops and livestock are on the development site must be well
informed in advance so that they will transplant their crops onto another piece of land and also move their

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livestock to another place. If their food source and livestock are damaged the organization or government
should give them some benefit in order to avoid food insecurity.

From the Nadzab Airport Redevelopment Project, we identifying two Sustainable Development Goals and
they are;

• SDG No. 8 – Industrial, Innovation and Infrastructure

• SDG No. 9 - Decent Work and Economic Growth.
However, stated are two targets that were considered to be significant to alleviate the environmental
problems that arise within the projects. From this perspective the two major targets are;

 Economic Growth and Job Opportunities

According to IMF, employed population breakdown according to the industry is 72.3%, 3.6% and 22.70%,
respectively. The GDP share an industry-wise employees' is breakdown suggests manufacturing is biased
towards capital incentive sectors and does not provide enough job opportunities. Since the project took over
that place, many young youths and men from the surrounding, areas and blocks involved in getting part-time
jobs like security, cleaners, carpenters, road builders as well as operators and drivers for that contracting
company. It helps them in sustaining the livelihood of their family in terms of finance and also provides for
them.

Particularly, the project also builds the economic growth of people living in those areas. For example, they
might build their canteen stores, have table markets, and mothers provide fresh food from the garden to sell
because there are a lot of workers there due to the opportunity for jobs. It also provokes that this place will
turn into an industrial sector. Economic growth is driven sometimes by consumer spending and business
investment. Increases in labour inputs, such as the project of redevelopment of Nadzab airport increase the
economic growth in those particular areas.

 Environment and social consideration

Environmental and social consideration means considering environmental impacts on air water, soil,
ecosystem, flora and fauna as well as social impact including involuntary resettlement and respect for the
human rights of indigenous people and so on.

Eventually, there are some environmental and social considerations that need to be considered by the JICA
Cooperation Scheme (Yen Loan Project) that took up this project and it includes;

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 Land acquisition and resettlement
 Water supply
 Power supply
 Road and infrastructures
 Schools and health centers

It is a company's responsibility to look into those areas and help out the settlers and landowners to provide
them with their basic needs such as water supplies, power supplies, roads and infrastructures, and schools
and health centers to cater for them. It is also their responsibility to resettle and provide the settlers in a
project site area to have a better place to live.

To conclude, relating to our chosen SDGS the two targets that we've considered and chosen that, will benefit
the future in its best interest are; 1. Environment and Social Consideration 2. Economy Growth and Job
Opportunity

1. Environment and Social Consideration.

Relating to the SDGS, companies or originations must consider their daily activities and carry out their
development projects sustainably. Following sustainable practices, it will minimize some environmental
problems like climate change, loss of biodiversity, damage to the ozone layer, soil degradation, and many
other environmental-related problems. The social consideration that must be understood and taken into
context by organizations, companies, or individuals at all times is that human activities and economic
development activities cannot be understood as independent from the natural environment in which they take
place. All human activities depend on the natural environment to take place, so when we are carrying out any
activity, we should not think of our own cost, we should think wisely for tomorrow or the future.

2. Economy Growth and Job Opportunity.

Sustainable development practices must be practiced in economic growth, because most of the economic
activities and the jobs that they depend on or provide, depend on the extraction of natural resources,
deforestation, and producing harmful waste and emissions. As we practice Sustainable Development Goals,
we will use the environment with precaution and conserve the natural environment and its ecosystem for
future use. This will increase economic growth in the future and when there is economic growth in a
particular area, there are more job opportunities in the future.

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There are many factors to consider or suggestions that can be made to encourage sustainability practices in
development projects in Papua New Guinea. One suggestion is, the government must create strict policies that
guide foreign organizations and companies, and our local companies within the country, and there should be
people there to carry out these policies and check regularly with the development sites to make sure these
policies are being practiced. Organizations or companies must also educate their employees about the
sustainable practice policies that are in place. Sustainable practices start individually, from one person it can
pass to a group and to large organizations and companies.

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REFERENCES;

• Environmental Justice Atlas (Internet source)

• Jordan, R. (2017). The Project for the Study on Lae-Nadzab Development Plan in Papua New
Guinea. Japan International Cooperation Agencies. Lae Urban Local Level Government.

• Lae City Authority, (2023). Nadzab Airport Redevelopment Project

https://lca.gov.pg/major-projects/nadzabairport-redevelopment-project/

• Gware, C. (March 21, 2023). Nadzab redevelopment nears completion: Loop PNG
https://www.looppng.com/business/nadzab-redevelopment-nears-completion-118607

• Japan International Cooperation Agency, (2023). Activities in Papua New Guinea: Nadzab
Airport Redevelopment Project
https://www.jica.go.jp/png/english/activities/activity20.html

• Japan International Cooperation Agency, (2023). Information Disclosure under JICA

Guidelines for Environment and Social Considerations (April, 10) and the Guidelines revised
thereafter
https://www.jica.go.jp/english/our_work/social_environmental/id/oceania/png/

• NATURE TRUST BRITISH COLUMBIA, (2023). Threats to Biodiversity

https://www.naturetrust.bc.ca/conserving-land/threats-to-biodiversity

• Canadian Center of Science and Education, (December 18, 2021). Sustainable Agriculture
Research; Vol. 11. No. 1; 2022
https://doi.org/10.5539/sar.v11n1p11

• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, (September, 20213). FAO response
to food security challenges

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 https://www.un.org/youthenvoy/2013/09/fao-food-and-agriculture-organisation-of-
theunitednations/

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