A new bore water project has been launched in Porebada village on Saturday 12th September 2026, by the Hiri LLG vice president and Porebada West councillor Maba Morea.

Mr. Maba on behalf of the Hiri Koiari district Development Authority and Hiri local level government, did the official groundbreaking ceremony at Bitogor area, which is within the main Porebada village, for the initial start of the project to start this month.

Mr. Morea said water is an essential need for survival which has been lacking in the community for many years.

Since being elected as the new councilor he has pledge his support to the Hiri LLG, the Hiri Koiari District Development Authority and the Central Provincial Government to ensure the bore water project is prioritised and pursued for construction to begin with the required funding.

The Bitogo landowners’ group from Gunina one clan have given the ultimate support to ensure the bore water project addressed the crucial need of the Porebada community. This project is expected to cost half a million Kina funded by the Hiri-Koiari district Development Authority.

Speaking on behalf of the local member Keith Iduhu, Hiri Koiari DDA member Arua Soge said it will be the single biggest project undertaken by the district in the community that will immensely benefit the village for a reliable clean, safe drinking water. 

With the ELNINO drought taking a toll on the nation, the MotuKoitabu village like Porebada, Roku, Kouderika, Boera, Papa and Lealea are facing severe water crisis. The project once into fruition will relief and improve the community health, reliability, economic savings, promote farming and safe water source that will enhance quality of life. 

The Motuan villages along the Central coastline have struggled to get safe drinking water since independence in 1975. Water PNG only provides water to the metropolitan city of Port Moresby and has not made its extension to Central province yet. The communities in Central have relied on natural source of water from creeks, rivers, rainfall and bore water for survival.

The chairman of the water project committee Doura Morea has thanked the Hiri Koiari district DDA and the Hiri LLG for supporting the community with this life changing project. 

He said Porebada bore water project is important because it will give the community accessibility to safe, clean, reliable and consistent water supply every day of the year. 

It protects the children’s health, saves families time, money, and provides the foundation for the school and community to grow. He said water is life, and the bore water ensures life and development can continue even in dry season. 

The bore water project is expected to be the biggest water source that will supply water supplied to the entire Porebada community with a population of more than ten thousand people. The community has faced chronic water problem although it is a few kilometers away from the nation’s capital. 

The village was once connected to water by the then Eda Ranu now Water PNG in the 1990s, however the water completely ceased around 2004. Now for more than two decades, the community has been struggling to get clean drinking water.

The community currently relies on water supplied by water tanks from Port Moresby. The lack of a reliable water source has affected government institution like Porebada Primary school, Redscar High school, the health center and the community at large, however with this new bore water project launched, it will greatly benefit the people of Porebada. 

In the meantime, the councilor for Porebada East Mr. Gau Parko has thanked the Member for Hiri Koiari Keith Iduhu and the DDA for the allocation of the fund that will greatly help the Porebada community having access to clean safe water. He also commanded the Gunina one clan members for releasing their land for this vital infrastructure development in the village.