I have a number of concerns in regard to the process used to determine the need for the projects, the priority of each one, and the obvious lack of consultation and co-ordination with trek operators who have generated more than A$2 million in campsite fees for villagers over the past five years.

A co-ordinated plan could have resulted in village communities working in partnership with aid agencies to develop all of these structures and deliver all of the services required in regard to health, education and sport. This would have allowed the above facilities and services to be developed in more needy villages off the track.

Kovovo, a small school in a valley between Kagi and Naduri villages is a good example of aid that makes us feel good – but has little effect on the lives of villagers. The school originally had a number of comfortable classrooms built out of bush material. When I used to trek through the area in the early 1990s there were always work-parties from both villagers building classrooms and preparing gardens.

Some time in the mid-1990s an aid agency built three large classrooms with proper timber materials and roofing iron. The buildings were almost finished when work stopped. They sat unfinished and unused for around a decade.

I suggested to the village leaders that they organise a work-party to finish the buildings. They advised me that they did not own them – they were AusAID buildings!

The distribution of school curriculum materials distributed to 22 schools is another interesting example. I have tried to find out which schools are government schools, which are community schools, the grades and numbers of teachers and students in each village along the track for at least 10 years. I have approached the PNG Department of Education, the PNG Department of Community Services and AusAID Education personnel. Nobody could give me enough information for us to help meet the needs of local students. We therefore use a fair bit of guesswork at Theodist school stationary suppliers in Port Moresby.

If that information now exists it would be helpful if the aid agencies or Kokoda Development Program could share it with us.
If we wish to develop a sustainable level of support for villagers then the priority should be to develop a proper management system for the trekking industry. This should include:
1. Conduct of village workshops to determine community needs;
2. A proper Trek Permit system;
3. A standardised medical clearance system for trekkers;
4. Accreditation of trek operators;
5. Accreditation of campsites in partnership with landowners
6. Development of ‘village co-operatives’.