The Australian High Commission partnered with the East Sepik Provincial (ESP) Administration to install water tanks and construct safer rural markets at 15 identified sites in the province. Maur Market is the first of 15 markets to be built across ESP under the Water Security and Rural Markets Development Project and was officially opened last year on 13th November. East Sepik Deputy Governor David Kausik and Australian High Commission Minister Counsellor Penny Morton were present that day to officially open the ESP Maur Market Turubu Local Level Governments (LLG). The Australian High Commission's objective of the project is to support livelihoods in subsistence agriculture and economic growth in the East Sepik region and is part of Australia’s commitment under the PNG –Australia Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership to strengthen cooperation in PNG’s priority regions and economic growth, enhance stability and improve service delivery. The President Council of Women in the Turubu LLG expressed her gratitude and how her community will benefit from the project. “We are happy with this market in our LLG as it is closer to our homes and communities,” she said. Member of Ward Development Committee and Committee for Market and Social Services, Ferdiand Paimat said that upgrading rural markets is another way of improving the life of the community, and subsistence farmers will now have a proper market to sell from and benefit from it also. “As a leader, I am happy with the benefits this market will bring to the community, the LLG, the province and the country as a whole,” he said. The Australian High Commission is improving access to clean water and safe space for local vendors to sell their fresh produce in their own local communities.