After decades of stalled plans and missed opportunities, the long-awaited vision of developing Bautama into the future capital city of Central Province is finally gaining momentum.
Originally proposed in 1995, with earlier ground-breaking events held in 1998 and 2007, the Bautama Central City project faced years of delays due to funding issues, administrative setbacks and accountability challenges.
Now, under the leadership of Central Governor Rufina Peter, the Central Provincial Government has revived the project with several key developments already underway.
In February this year, Governor Peter launched major infrastructure projects including the refit of a new provincial market, a commercial complex, a residential estate and the opening of the Bautama boom-toll gate.
The latest step in the development process was the Bautama Urban Planning and Infrastructure Coordination Workshop facilitated by Atlas Urban, bringing together planners, utility providers, developers and government agencies to coordinate future urban planning.
Governor Peter described Bautama as a blueprint project that will guide future metropolitan developments in Central Province, particularly in areas surrounding the National Capital District within Hiri-Koiari.
She said the province must prepare for increasing migration pressures expected from national road infrastructure developments and growing urban movement between Port Moresby and Central Province.
“One of the critical importance of this workshop is to ensure that we as a province are ready for urban-rural migration (Port Moresby-Central) and rural-urban migration, the influx of people into the city.”
Acting Central Provincial Administrator Magini Raga said the workshop created an opportunity for technical experts, planners and investors to align development plans for the benefit of future generations.
Atlas Urban Director of Design and Strategy Paul Walter said the workshop focused on integrated planning, to ensure future developments connect effectively.
“We have been tasked to work with Central Province to organise the space.”
“Today we’re focusing on Bautama in particular, and we’re thinking about how each of these projects can connect together, how power and water can come in, what sort of circulation and access needs to come in, and we’re working together with Water PNG and various utility authorities to bring these things together.”
Participants attending the workshop included Water PNG, Central Provincial Police, the Central Province Health Authority, developers and investment representatives.
The Bautama initiative is expected to create new economic opportunities, attract private investment, improve access to services and provide greater participation for customary landowners in future development.
After more than 30 years of planning discussions, Bautama now stands at a critical turning point as Central Province pushes to transform the long-held vision into reality.
