The Kokoda Track Reopens After Years of Closure

The Kokoda Track, Papua New Guinea’s most iconic tourist attraction, has reopened its gates after being shut down for several months due to a payment dispute with local landowners.

The track, which stretches 96 kilometers from near Port Moresby to Kokoda Village, has a rich history dating back to World War II. It was during this time that Australian troops clashed with Japanese soldiers along the route, earning the track its infamous reputation.

A Legacy of Sacrifice

For many years, the track has been a popular destination for trekkers and adventure seekers, but it’s also a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who lived along its path during World War II. The landowners in Oro Province have been seeking fair compensation for the land used by the Japanese military during the war.

In 2014, the Papua New Guinea government committed to pay K50 million to the landowners, but only two installments of K5 million each were paid out. The remaining balance was left unpaid, leaving the landowners waiting patiently for years.

A Commitment to Honour

Last week, Governor Gary Juffa attended the reopening ceremony at Kokoda Village and reiterated his government’s commitment to honouring the agreement made by a previous government. According to Juffa, “Our government has made a commitment to pay the Kodu landowners the amount of money we had committed to pay them at the time.”

He went on to explain that the payment will be made out in instalments through a specially set-up body that will ensure it’s distributed evenly among the community. Juffa also acknowledged that other communities along the route have suffered due to their inability to maintain modern infrastructure, including roads and medical clinics.

A Call for Collaboration

Juffa urged both the Papua New Guinea and Australian governments to work together to support these communities. He noted that a previous arrangement to provide assistance had been maintained by Canberra but not by the PNG government until the Marape government stepped up.

The governor concluded by saying, “It means no roads or services such as medical clinics. He said at the end of WW2, ‘in Australia and PNG, for instance, people went about their lives, but the people living along the Kokoda Trail have been forced to live the way they are since 1945, so continuously making a sacrifice.'”

A New Era for the Kokoda Track

The reopening of the Kokoda Track marks a new era for this iconic destination. With the payment dispute resolved and a commitment to fair compensation made, visitors can now look forward to an unforgettable adventure through some of Papua New Guinea’s most breathtaking landscapes.

As Juffa so eloquently put it, “I believe was in 2014 or thereabouts, I forget the exact dates, but it was some time ago. The government then had committed to pay the landowners a certain amount of money, for giving up the opportunity to have a mine on their land, a gold mine, which would have seen them earn significant revenues.”

The track’s reopening is a testament to the efforts of those who have worked tirelessly to resolve the dispute and ensure that the local communities receive fair compensation. With this new era underway, visitors can now experience the history and beauty of Papua New Guinea in all its glory.