ADB, AusAID, and NZAID are boosting infrastructure in Solomon Islands through Post Conflict Emergency Rehabilitation Project (PCERP) - Photo Essay

Solomon Islands

Photo Essays

ADB, AusAID, and NZAID Boosting Infrastructure in Solomon Islands
By Sally Shute-Trembath, PLCO External Relations Officer

The 1999-2000 ethnic conflict destroyed major infrastructure linking provincial and market centers to communities in the Solomon Islands. Bridges were bombed, roads were damaged, and water supplies were cut off.

The Post Conflict Emergency Rehabilitation Project (PCERP) aims to restore essential services and basic infrastructure destroyed during the conflict. ADB’s rapid response to these constraints was a loan of $SI 7, 771,000 ($10 million at the time) approved on 21 December 2000.

In February 2006, Australia and New Zealand (under their international assistance development programs AusAID and NZAID) contributed $8.5 million to co-finance the expansion of PCERP's scope. Under the new plan, PCERP aims to repair and rehabilitate about 102km of sealed roads, 65km of gravel roads and 51 bridges in Guadalcanal and Malaita Provinces. It will also improve the intake and distribution storage capacity of the Auki Water Supply on Malaita. PCERP is about 30% complete. Progress includes: 18km of Honiara’s main road, the repair of 4.5km of Honiara’s urban roads and the Tanavasa Bridge in West Guadalcanal is almost complete. Read more [ PDF ] about PCERP.

Each picture below links to a larger photograph.

The civil unrest in 1999, left many of Honiara’s urban roads in disrepair.	The roads around the Chinatown area are particularly damaged, many soon to be restored by PCERP.	Road rehabilitation is much needed in West Guadalcanal, especially near Naro Hill.
In West Guadalcanal the main road is virtually impassable in parts and passengers are often forced to push their vehicles through the most damaged sections of road.	The Tanavasa Bridge, west of Honiara (pictured above and right) was destroyed in the 1999-2000 conflict. PCERP is in the process of re-building it.	Local people have re-named the Tanavasa Bridge, ‘The Bridge of Peace.’
This strip of road in East Guadalcanal near Henderson Airport has been repaired under PCERP.	PCERP road works are fully operational in Honiara.	While road works may be a temporary inconvenience, the long term advantages of an improved road are many and maintenance is key.
Improved roads and bridges under PCERP will mean less wear and tear on vehicles, which may encourage more competition between truck operators and may result in the price of truck passage falling. From West Guadalcanal, a trip to Honiara one way costs about $SI40.	Improved infrastructure may result in people making more frequent trips to Honiara’s Central Market.	Travel time to the market will be shorter.
Produce will arrive at the market fresher.	Better roads and bridges may improve access to essential social services, such as schools and hospitals.	Chief Kennet Buari from the Maoro Community in Malaita says he appreciates the project team’s willingness to listen to local knowledge shared by members of his community.
Womens’ groups in Malaita and in West Guadalcanal say they would like to contribute to light road maintenance for a fee.	Some communities affected by PCERP are worried about motorists speeding on roads improved by project. Community leaders suggest signs could be put up outside villages, to deter speeding.	Community consultations are ongoing under PCERP. These meetings are a valuable way of gaining important feedback about the bridge and road restoration under the project, and may even lead to some improvements. Potential problems may also be raised before they become big problems.