Caption: Governor Powes Parkop.
By MATTHEW VARI
Wednesday, October 22, 2014 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)
RESPONDING to queries on the growing establishment of schools, motels, workshops, and other business activities in city residential suburbs- NCD Governor Powes Parkop has indicated moves by the city authority to tighten on the establishment of businesses in residential areas.
Governor Parkop, who is also the current chairman of the Physical Planning Board, confessed that many error have occurred over the years in terms of approvals the building and establishment of the mentioned establishments.
He also highlighted that the issue was the main reasons as to why he had taken up the position of the chair of the board.
“This is one of the reasons why I have decided to take over the chairmanship of the physical planning and try to put an end to this,” Governor Parkop said.
“They have allowed to much exception to allow residences to be converted too easily to become a guest house, motels, workshops (mechanical) - without considering too much the zoning or the impact the nearby residences.”
The governor also called on residents to take more proactive approaches to such development taking place in their respective areas.
He called on those residents facing issues with converted residential allotments to register their complaint officially for the city authority to take the required measures.
“Sometimes our residents are not proactive, which is partly our fault, but also city residents are not taking note of notice that is the licensing committee are going to award a license to a licensee in a particular area,” Parkop said.
“If you are a resident there please send me a complaint- if areas within suburbs are residential it should remain residential.”
“Unless only the place has been rezone, referring to current valuation roll update being undertaken, or their activity does not interfere too much with the zoning of their area.”
He raised specific concern on the rise of private schools that were not adhering to the Education Act that specifies the required levels land area for the various education levels.
“Definitely if it is school among a residential area than it is a concern, from the residents we will have to see ways to relocate the schools as the places are getting smaller as enrollments increase.”
“Under the education act there is a space requirement- from running a small kindergarten to preschools, primary, high school- there are requirements and child welfare that there has to be space.
“You cannot squeeze a school into a small area; if complaints come in we will deal with them.”
The governor emphasized the importance of official complaints- citing capacity issues as a reason for a lack of enforcement and inspection throughout the city.
“Normally there is an advertisement that goes out where we state the section and lot number- so if you are in that area you have an opportunity like a month to submit an objection.”
“Due to the capacity we now rely on complaint, because like the other division of NCDC, physical planning does not have the capacity to go around the city to inspect all developments in the city.”
“Unless only the place has been rezone, referring to current valuation roll update being undertaken, or their activity does not interfere too much with the zoning of their area.”
He raised specific concern on the rise of private schools that were not adhering to the Education Act that specifies the required levels land area for the various education levels.
“Definitely if it is school among a residential area than it is a concern, from the residents we will have to see ways to relocate the schools as the places are getting smaller as enrollments increase.”
“Under the education act there is a space requirement- from running a small kindergarten to preschools, primary, high school- there are requirements and child welfare that there has to be space.
“You cannot squeeze a school into a small area; if complaints come in we will deal with them.”
The governor emphasized the importance of official complaints- citing capacity issues as a reason for a lack of enforcement and inspection throughout the city.
“Normally there is an advertisement that goes out where we state the section and lot number- so if you are in that area you have an opportunity like a month to submit an objection.”
“Due to the capacity we now rely on complaint, because like the other division of NCDC, physical planning does not have the capacity to go around the city to inspect all developments in the city.”
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