Lynette is an investigative historian.  In her most recent book ‘Marcel Caux – A Life Unravelled’ she unmasked the true identity of Australia’s last WW1 combat soldier, who for 85 years, passed himself off as someone else.  In 2009 her meticulous research exposed Arthur Crane, who claimed to be a POW and was in receipt of a veterans’ pension, as a fraud. He had never served.

In a letter to published in the Sabah Daily Express on 1 October 2011 she has challenged claims made by an ‘Australian operator’ (Wayne Wetherall of Kokoda Spirit and Sandakan Spirit) in regard to the Sandakan-Ranau Death March Route:

‘I read with great interest the letter from ‘History Buff’ (Daily Express 25 September) regarding recent claims made by an Australian tour operator about the Sandakan-Ranau death march route. I will leave it to others to comment on matters relating to the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea. However, as I have spent the last 20 years researching the history of Sandakan and the death marches and identified and pioneered the current route with Tham Yau Kong, I feel that I am qualified to speak out on this particular subject.

‘In 2010, the Australian operator referred to undertook a trek with TYK Adventure Tours, a small company owned by a local operator Tham Yau Kong. After recording the route on a GPS, the Australian announced that he intended to conduct his own treks. In order to promote and attract business he then registered, as his internet domain name, a name that was identical (apart from a hyphen) to that used by Tham since 2005. He also downloaded, without permission, historical material copyrighted exclusively to me, onto his own website.

‘His next move was to make statements on his website, and in the Australian media, that people walking along the death march track had all been following an incorrect route. The correct path, he claimed, passed through the village of Miruru, in the Liwagu valley. His ‘proof’ was a map that appeared in a self-published book in 1999.

‘The route shown on this map has no basis in fact.

‘In 1945, POWs marching from Sandakan to Ranau followed a jungle trail, the majority of which was cut by local headmen. Intent on making life hard for the Japanese, who were retreating into the interior, the headmen had deliberately routed the track away from all habitation until it reached Paginatan, 26 miles from Ranau. Keeping well clear of the Liwagu-Labuk river system with its numerous small kampongs, the track crossed the Telupid and Tapaang Rivers, before following the southern banks of the Taviu River until Lolosing, where it ascended to the summit of what we now call Taviu Hill.

‘At the end of 1945, Australian army teams walked the death march track three times, searching for the remains of dead POWs. Two teams moved from east to west. The other, travelling in the opposite direction, was led by survivor Bill Sticpewich who had walked the track as a POW. Diaries were kept, reports compiled and the location of each body found was meticulously noted. Local people, to whom a bounty was paid for located remains, were keen to help. The teams also carefully mapped and recorded the route in great detail, including the distance between each river crossed, especially in the Taviu valley, which was uncharted and unexplored territory.

‘The word ‘Miruru’ appears nowhere on any Australian archival record, and the village by that name is not marked on any recovery or investigation map. ‘Miruru’ does, however, appear on a few Japanese ‘place of death’ records. While some Japanese records are very accurate and can be relied upon, less diligent recorders were often extremely inexact. They not only used broad-based ‘locality’ names to describe a place of death, they also ‘re-named’ existing geographical features, including Taviu Hill and a tributary of the Taviu River, both of which they called ‘Miruru’ – a word that means ‘parallel‘.

‘The faulty 1999 map in the self-published book has been drawn by the author on the incorrect assumption that ‘Miruru’ refers to the village in the Liwagu Valley of the same name.

‘A map of the route, charted in 1945 and taken from archival sources, is in the Commemorative Pavilion at the Sandakan Memorial Park, where it has been on public display for the last 12 years. A similar map has also been displayed at Kundasang memorial gardens since 2006. The most superficial search of Australian archives, or a visit to either of these establishments in Sabah, by the book’s author would have revealed the fallacy of this assumption, which has led directly to the current situation.

‘The Sabah Society, inturn, gave this 1999 map in good faith to Tham Yau Kong, whose task it was to assist with the Society’s commemorative march from Sandakan to Ranau in August 2005. It was not until the walk had concluded that Tham learned from me of the existence of the archival maps, which showed clearly that the original route had not passed anywhere near Miruru village.

‘Despite being made aware of this, the Australian tour operator continues to use the original faulty map, as well as the Sabah Society map based upon it, as ‘proof’ of his claim that the death march passed through Kampong Miruru. Indeed, far from retracting his claims, he has recently tried to add further weight to the validity of his so-called route by claiming in the media that the headman of Miruru is ‘adamant’ that the death march passed by the village.

‘As Tham Yau Kong had interviewed villagers in 2005, and established that no white men had been in the Liwagu valley during WW2, in May this year, after the spurious claims regarding the route first emerged, I re-interviewed a key witness. After stating categorically that the death march route did not go near Miruru, he accompanied me to Taviu Hill to confirm the exact path of the POW route. This expedition was video-recorded.

‘In August this year I visited Miruru, to interview the present-day headman, and his father, who had been employed by the Japanese as a courier, delivering messages along the track. Their independent interviews, and that of another witness in nearby Mangkadai village, who gave the same information, were video-recorded. All three informants were adamant that the death march track had never passed anywhere near their villages, old or new, but had followed the Taviu River – the same information previously given to Tham and myself by other local people who had worked for, or been in contact with, the Japanese.

‘The older man at Miruru also revealed that there had been one white man in the village in 1945 – a POW whom he had ‘rescued’ from the track and then passed to the headman at Telupid. I knew of this incident, as a report to this effect is in Australian archives. The man further demonstrated his intimate knowledge of the death march route by naming the rivers appearing on the archival map as rivers that needed to be crossed, and confirmed the location of the Lolosing Japanese camp site (also marked on the map), the correct route up Taviu Hill and that, from the summit, the track went directly down to Tampias.

‘He stated that there was definitely no diversion into, or from, Miruru village, and. seemed astounded that anyone could possibly think that the death march passed by the village, saying ‘other side, other side’ and pointing in the direction of the Taviu River. He also confirmed that, apart from small hunting trails known only to the villagers, no connecting paths linked the Liwagu Valley to the Taviu Valley during WW2.

‘His son, the present headman, categorically denied that he has ever met or spoken to the Australian tour operator, whom knew was in the village recently. Indeed, he stated that he refused a request for an interview. He is therefore understandably angry and upset that his good name and reputation as a man of standing in the community have been used and exploited to give credence to such bogus claims.

‘The route of the death march has never been a secret. Anyone with a copy of the archival map who has intimate knowledge of the river systems can retrace the route, which is what Tham Yau Kong did in late 2005. The path currently followed by TYK trekking groups is as close as possible to the original track, keeping in mind environmental, land ownership and other considerations.

‘This is especially true for the climb up Taviu Hill. This section of the track is now the subject of a new claim by the Australian tour operator, who declared that it had been ‘lost’ and that he has recently‘ discovered‘ it. ‘This sector has never been ‘lost’. It does, however, pass through highly protected Class 1 forest, which cannot be disturbed in any way or entered without permission from the Forestry Department. As this area is also prone to sudden flash floods, and there is a seven-hour ‘no escape’ trek to reach the summit, requiring a high level of fitness, until 2011 TYK had never offered it to general trekking groups. They always ascend Taviu Hill by a parallel route that is safer, and less environmentally intrusive.

‘However, on 21 August, with the necessary permission obtained, weather conditions dry, and a trekking group that was superbly fit and very environmentally aware, the TYK team guided a group of British soldiers up the Lolosing route.

‘The intention to use this route was announced on 12 August. On 22 August, the day on which the Daily Express reported that the soldiers had completed the climb, reports appeared in the Australian and Malaysian tabloid press that the Australian tour operator had ‘found’ the ‘lost’ Lolosing route on 13 August.

‘To support this claim, ‘breaking news’ was posted on the operator’s website, along with several photos. These photographs show that the route he had ‘found’ with such ease, by ‘slashing’ his way through what is Class 1 protected forest, on an expedition that he claims had the support of Sabah Forestry is, in fact, an old logging track, leading to an oil palm plantation along the Taviu River. Furthermore, on 15 August, two days after the alleged discovery of the ‘lost’ route, this same operator tried unsuccessfully to attach himself to the British team in order to climb Lolosing, the route he then claimed, on 22 August, to have ‘found‘ on the 13^th.

‘In summary:

‘1) The historical facts surrounding the Sandakan Death Marches have been available to the wider public since the 1998 publication of my book ‘Sandakan a Conspiracy of Silence‘, a work that took six years to research and complete.

‘2) The map of the Death March route, as documented by the army recovery teams in 1945, has been on public display at the Sandakan Memorial Park since 1999. A similar map has also been on display at Kundasang Memorial Park since 2006.

‘3)) The claim that the death march track passed through old, or new, Miruru village is incorrect.

‘4) The claim that a section of the track has been ‘lost’ is also incorrect. For environmental and safety reasons a parallel track is used for trekking parties.

‘I would like to conclude by stating that I will continue to give my wholehearted support to the promotion of Sabah as an ideal, safe and interesting destination for Australians. I also reaffirm my numerous offers to attend information seminars, held in Sabah for the benefit of local guides and accredited operators, who wish to know more about the death march story.

‘I have no financial or commercial interest in any business, either in Sabah or Australia, which derives income or any other benefit form the Sandakan death marches. My interest in this particular matter is simply to ensure that the history of this tragic and unfortunate chapter in Australian history is correctly and faithfully recorded for posterity.’

Lynette Silver
Historian

Wayne Wetherall has form in this area.  He has made similar claims in regard to the ‘discovery’ of Captain Sam Templeton’s body on the Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea.  The claim led to a well publicised ‘search‘ which did not produce any forensic evidence but created a high degree of stress to Templeton’s surviving family.

Wetherall’s claims to be a ‘historian’ are regarded as spurious.

Charlie has trekked Kokoda 61 times over the past 20 years and has climbed Mt Wilhelm twice. He is a leading advocate for wartime tourism and was instrumental in establishing the Kokoda Track Authority to ensure villages along the trail received shared benefits from the emerging trekking industry.

Charlie is also the founding Chairman of Network Kokoda www.networkkokodaorg.au and has been a leading advocate for allowing Papua New Guineans access to seasonal work opportunities in Australia.

The 70th Anniversary of the War in the Pacific provides a significant opportunity for Papua New Guinea to focus on the benefits of wartime tourism. Increasing numbers of Australians not only want to know more about our wartime history, they want to experience it.

Charlie’s insights into the Kokoda trekking industry provide the basis of a case study for the sustainable development of wartime tourism in PNG. Over the past decade Kokoda trekkers have generated more than K45 million into village economies via fees, wages and local purchases. A further K55 million has been generated into the PNG economy via hotel accommodation, charter aircraft, ground transport, meals and discretionary purchases. Total GST revenue between Australia and PNG is in the region of K30 million.

Despite this cycle of wealth flushing through the PNG Government and village communities along the Kokoda Trail there is little to show for it.

Millions more have been spent on Australian advisors, consultants and aid projects that threaten to create a culture of welfare dependency.

Whilst the establishment of a Special Purpose Local Government Authority to manage the Kokoda trekking industry has not realised its potential there have been some valuable lessons learned for the development of a wartime tourism based industry.

A new model should reflect the essential relationships between government, tour operators and local communities. Corporate governance, infrastructure development, special legislation, marketing and promotion, safety, cultural sensitivities, environmental protection and local community development are essential features of a sustainable wartime tourism industry.

A PNG Wartime History Foundation established as a National Government Corporation under the Companies Act would provide a national framework for the industry. Special corporations owned by local communities could then be developed to manage each particular area – the Kokoda Trail, Black Cat Track, Shaggy Ridge, Lark Force, etc.

Consultants who are not familiar with Melanesian culture or not fluent in local language should be banned from the process of developing a sustainable wartime tourism model. Non-Government Aid Agencies should also be restricted to limit the impact of welfare dependency.

The benefits of wartime tourism extend far beyond the tourism industry. It provides an empathetic gateway into each others’ culture which will arrest the drift in our relationship over the past three decades.

Charlie’s visit to the UPNG Tourism and Hospitality Conference is sponsored by Air Niugini and Coral Seas Hotels.

Three of the commandos in the raid, doing what they were sent to do by the Australian government now face charges of manslaughter.  These young men have been double-crossed by our political leaders who have exposed them to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court in the Hague.

Membership of the world court is a gold plated pass to the finer things in life for the international legal fraternity.  First class travel, 5-star hotels, fine cuisine and vintage wine are standard fare for the elite in the justice system.  The court provides a forum for eminent legal minds from Australia, Albania, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Romania, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Tajikistan and others to discuss a new world order for law and justice.   

Our major ally, the United States, is not a signatory to the world court.  Neither are China, India or any of the major Middle Eastern nations.  The conventions of the court are not recognised by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

 The United States have enacted an American Service-Members’ Protection Act to protect their troops against criminal prosecution by an international criminal court.  Australia has failed to offer the same protection to our troops. 

We have also failed to provide them with a system of justice that recognises and respects the unique nature of their role in combat i.e. to close with and kill the enemy.  The enemy has a similar role.  This was reflected in General George Patton’s address to his troops in Europe in WW11.  ‘You don’t win wars by dying for your country,’ he urged. ‘You win wars by making the other bastard die for his country!’

Combat is not about group hugs and counselling sessions with your opponents.  It’s about training, discipline, fear, courage, sacrifice, mateship and leadership.  Only those who have experienced combat understand these human complexities. Strategies to prepare soldiers for combat operations have evolved over the centuries. 

Soldiers also understand, better than most, that modern wars are not won on the battlefield. They are won within the hearts and minds of civilian populations.

The historic decision to charge our commando’s with manslaughter as the result of a night combat operation in Afghanistan is a shameless act of betrayal by the Australian government.  The decision will have far reaching consequences on the command and control of combat operations which require split-second decisions to meet changing or unforeseen circumstances.  Soldier’s lives will be at risk if commanders hesitate as they weigh up the implications of their decisions against the laws of the International Criminal Court or the prejudice of an all-powerful Director of Military Prosecutions.

The traditional system of conducting military prosecutions by courts martial allowed for servicemen and women to be judged by peers with an understanding of the complexities of combat in a hostile environment. This system was replaced by a botched Australian Military Court in 2007. 

The botched system sought to institutionalise the betrayal of our servicemen and women by our political leaders who would have been subject to trial by a civilian judge without a jury. The decision to prosecute was delegated to a new supremo, the Director of Military Prosecutions, who is not answerable to either the military high command or Parliament.

Whilst the Australian Military Court was found to be unconstitutional in 2009 the Director of Military Prosecutions, Brigadier Lyn McDade remains as a supreme independent authority. Whilst McDade was awarded the title of ‘Brigadier’ and gets to wear a uniform she has never had to earn the rank and has no experience in combat. 

Her military-political sympathies were revealed in an interview where she believed David Hicks had been badly treated because he trained with terrorists in Afghanistan.

Uniform and rank are an integral part of the military system.  Both have to be earned and respected.  Soldiers are comfortable with specialist officers such as medical doctors, nurses and padres wearing the uniform because they enlist to save lives and souls. They are more sceptical of the legal profession who often use their association with the military to enhance their status within their own fraternity.

They have forfeited their right to wear the Australian military uniform with the decision to charge our combat soldiers with manslaughter.  

The Australian government should move swiftly to disband the Office of Military Prosecutions and withdraw from the International Criminal Court to protect the integrity of our command and control system.  If our political leaders do not have the will or the fortitude to do this they should be banned from attending military funerals and not bother with meaningless motions of condolence in Parliament.

One of the commando’s who accompanied the bodies home on the RAAF Hercules is the son of one of my army mates – he is just 24 years of age and has just completed his third tour of duty in Afghanistan. He has trekked Kokoda twice with us over the past couple of years – those who were fortunate enough to share the experience with him will agree you will never meet a finer young Australian.  He was in the helicopter behind the one that went down on that fateful night.  It was their last operation against the Taliban  - they were three minues from their home base – and only three weks from their loved ones back home.  It was incredibly traumatic for those in the second helicopter who tried their best to save their mates as they are such a close knit professional team.  Next time you hear some chicken-heart bleating about our troops in Afghanistan you might refer them to Sam’s letter below:

Dear Reader,The 10 days which followed have changed my life. They have afforded me the opportunity to become acquainted with the most exemplary group of people one could meet. The group I refer to is the 2nd Commando Unit of Australia’s Army to which the three fallen soldiers belonged.

On the 21st June 2010 a helicopter went down in Afghanistan and Australia lost three of its finest young people. One of those I am proud to have been able to call a friend. He also happened to be the son of good friends. Quite simply he was the finest young person I have known.

On the 21st June 2010 a helicopter went down in Afghanistan and Australia lost three of its finest young people. One of those I am proud to have been able to call a friend. He also happened to be the son of good friends. Quite simply he was the finest young person I have known.

On Saturday 26th June my children and I attended the ramp ceremony where the bodies of the soldiers were returned to their families. Accompanying the bodies on the plane back from Afghanistan were the remaining members of the unit, brought home earlier than scheduled.

The dignity and solemnity of this occasion triggered emotion in all who attended but the overriding feeling in the aircraft hanger on that day can be summed up by just one word – “respect”.

At the end of proceedings I met and talked with a number of the commandos of that unit. The common thread of those talks is that Afghanistan is where they all want to be assigned. It is where they can put their training into use. It is a cause they believe in. It is where they think they can make a difference.

On Thursday 1st July I attended the funeral of that fine young man in his hometown. Over 1000 people were present, including immediate family and friends, military chiefs, political heads of our nation, and many people with whom his loss resonated.

However this was truly a ceremony about the “commando family”, made up of the commandos and their direct family.   It was the commandos who provided the guard of honour; it was they who carried their fallen mate’s casket; and it was they who grieved deeply.

The strength and support shown by these same men to the bereaved family has been astonishing and something difficult for those outside this unique group to comprehend. It was this commando family that had people flown in immediately to offer emotional support and to take care of every detail of the funeral. They did this because they too had been to Afghanistan. They understood; they cared; and they had respect for the sacrifice involved. Equally the young man’s family has accepted its loss with dignity and courage in the knowledge that their son’s death had meaning and purpose.

So who are these people called commandos? They are young Australians from all walks of life and from varying ethnic backgrounds. They are dedicated, confident, highly trained and highly disciplined people who take enormous pride in their role as elite soldiers. When not on overseas postings they work in Australia on counter terrorism activities to keep our country safe. They also train constantly to ensure their skills are up to speed at all times.

In combat their body armour, rifle, ammunition and water weigh in at 35 kilograms yet on top of that they carry their backpack. Carrying more than their actual body weight, they jump out of planes. They endure privations that most could not envision.

Amongst the commandos I had the pleasure to meet was a 34 year old father of two whose back is so worn out that he will have no choice but to resign at year’s end. Another is recovering from serious injury and at a mere 29 years of age realises he also will have to leave. Yet another is walking around with grenade fragments in the back of his head as a result of an accident on the range. The first medic to the scene of his accident was the young man whose funeral he had attended earlier that day.

The inspiration for me to pen these words is not so much the commandos themselves for I know they seek no recognition. It is rather the fact that it is illegal for them to be photographed or even identified in the media as a commando. That is, while they are alive. Out of the 16 Australian soldiers lost in Afghanistan, 12 have been commandos.

Everyday Australians therefore have no idea who these people are. These people who die for us; who suffer life-long disabilities for us; who protect us from sinister influences within our very own borders.

In an age when we idolise so-called celebrities – TV performers, sports people, actors – I pose the question “where have we gone wrong?”

On a personal level it is this commando family that has inspired me to strive to do better, to put in more effort for those in need in our society, and to focus less on material wants.
On a national level is it not time we started to redress the unhealthy pastime of idolising those who are simply working at what they enjoy and who happen to feature on our television screens or in the media?

Is it not time for more of our young people to work harder in pursuit of their own goals and to pay more respect to the teachers and elders who endeavour to help them?

Is it not time for families to work harder at developing a work ethic for themselves and their children in order to make a better contribution to our country?

Is it not time for older Australians to work harder for those less fortunate and for all Australians to show more respect to each other regardless of their heritage?

I have met my heroes. They will hereafter be my inspiration. But I can’t tell you who they are.Sam Halvorsen 67 Grandview Drive, Coolum Beach QLD. Tel. 07 5471 6644

During the last week two trekkers died on the Kokoda Trail, a couple more were evacuated by helicopter and fourteen went down with food poisoning.  Yesterday a campsite that took years to build at Ofi Creek was burned to the ground over an argument between two landowners.

Land disputes now block the wartime trail over the ‘golden staircase’ and Iorabaiwa Ridge – the closest the Japanese army got to Port Moresby in 1942.

The Kokoda Trail, which held so much potential as a model for sustainable eco-tourism in Papua New Guinea is beginning to choke on its own success.

For 50 years after the end of the war in the Pacific the track lay dormant and reverted to its original purpose of providing a link between villages.  Battlesites were slowly reclaimed by the jungle and new tracks were cut as easier pathways were discovered.  The bodies of diggers missing in action were covered in layers of leaves and mulch by Mother Nature. Their rifles, grenades and bayonets were left to rust in peace. 

Former Prime Minister, Paul Keating jolted our consciousness of the Kokoda campaign when he kissed the ground on the Kokoda plateau on the 50^th anniversary of the Kokoda campaign.  Inquisitive Australian trekkers began to prise open the jungle shielding the forgotten battlefields in search of the meaning of Kokoda.

Up till then Gallipoli was our most significant meeting place. 

But Kokoda is different.  According to one commentator, ‘at Gallipoli we fought for Britain and lost – at Kokoda we fought for Australia and won!’

The Federal Government has been slow to embrace the significance of military history to a generation that has been denied information by the custodians of education curricula from the academic left.  Fortunately these ideological censors have since been circumvented by the information revolution.  Young and old Australians can now do their own research in their quest to know more about our military history. 

Kokoda is an important bridge in the knowledge gap between what we don’t know and what we should have been taught.  It is also one of the few opportunities where people can walk in the footsteps of the brave and experience the conditions under which our veterans fought and died. 

The recent deaths and the number of evacuations are testimony to the hazardous nature of the trek across the remote, jungle clad mountains of the Owen Stanley Ranges.  Empty weapon pits surrounding overgrown defensive positions are haunting reminders of the epic struggle for survival between young men in the prime of their lives.  A shrill chorus from unseen ‘6 o’clock crickets’ pierces the stillness of the jungle each night.  It is almost as if they are sounding their ‘last post’ as a tribute to the memory of young Australian, Japanese and New Guinea men sent to do the bidding of their political masters.

A recent proposal to mine part of the track in the vicinity of the Maguli Range created a storm of protest.  The Federal Government was prompted into action and immediately plucked a figure of $15.9 million out of the air to assist Papua New Guinea to have the Owen Stanley Ranges placed on the World Heritage List.  A noble but misguided over-reaction in a land of a thousand cultures with customary land ownership.

Since then a veritable army of ‘experts’ have consumed most of the budget allocation through conferences, committees and consultants.  Pioneering trekking companies have been treated with some disdain because they are regarded as profiteers with conflicts of interest.  Never mind the relationships and trust many have established with villagers over almost two decades.

They seem oblivious to the fact that villagers along the track are earning more money than ever before through campsite fees, donations and wages.  They are blissfully unaware of the environmental and cultural damage they are causing by focusing on  ‘feel-good’ projects along the track. 

A partnership with the PNG Department of Community development to trial their Community Learning Development Centre concept has considerable merit but has been ignored to date. The concept involves the development of trust between clans, investment in community health and education, and the exploration of ways to add value to partnerships.  A PNG concept for PNG citizens might not sit well with our bureaucrats in the Department of Environment but it should be given a shot and the Minister, Dame Carol Kidu, should at least be consulted.

The Kokoda Trail is now a honey-pot attracting clans from distance villagers trying to cash in on the trekking industry.  Pristine jungle is being cleared for campsites, toilets are being sited on waterways and disputes are becoming the order of the day. 

We need to rethink our strategy and focus on the development of the abundance of human capital in PNG.  They are masters of their environment and would be willing partners in the protection of our military heritage in the lost battlefields of the Pacific War.

Article published in www.ThePunch.com.au – 8 August 2009

We do not the cause of death of those who died. We do not know how many have been evacuated, or why, because nobody keeps any records.

Perhaps it is time to question the effectiveness of the Kokoda Track Authority which is supposed to be the management agency for the Kokoda Trail. Australians have been in-situ for more than two years under a Joint Australian-PNG Agreement developed to protect the Kokoda Trail from mining and logging claims.

Since Australia signed the Joint Agreement in April last year there has been a veritable congo-line of consultants and bureaucrats visiting villages, some by foot and some by helicopter, to find out what the problems are and how they can be fixed. After two years and a couple of million dollars we are having about as much success as we are with our own indigenous communities.

‘Feel-good’ projects are the order of the day. We currently have ‘volunteer teams’ digging steps along the trail – unbelievable but true!

We are planning to build bridges across creeks for local people who have been building bridges for thousands of years – unbelievable but true!

We have developed an ineffectual and unenforceable ‘Code of Conduct’ for Trek Operators that looks great on paper – but that’s all! The list goes on.

Since the time Australia has had a presence in PNG under the Joint-Agreement there has not been a single survey to find out why trekkers go to Kokoda or to see how they would like it developed.

There has not been a single workshop in villages along the trail to see what local landowners and clan leaders like and dislike about the increasing numbers of trekkers passing through their villages – and what improvements they would like to see happen.

There is not a single management protocol yet in place for trekking Kokoda. For example an unfit, overweight smoker with a serious heart and lung condition could apply for a trek permit today and it would be granted – as long as he paid his $100 trek fee. He would not be required to provide a medical clearance, a trek itinerary or even engage a local guide. Unbelievable but true!

Any person can be a trek operator. There is no need for them to have any experience in expedition leadership, any qualifications in emergency First Aid, or to carry any medical or communications equipment. Unbelievable but true!

Any attempt to develop community enterprises along the Kokoda Trail should be done in partnership with the PNG Department of Community Development. Nobody has yet consulted with the Minister, Dame Carol Kidu MP, or her department to discuss the issue and opportunities for local community development.  Unbelievable but true!

The approach thus far seems to be based on the fact that Australian bureaucrats and consultants know best!

After the latest death on the trail this approach needs to be challenged and those who have been assigned to the Kokoda Track Authority should be charged with the responsibility for developing proper management systems for Kokoda Trail operations.

If trek operators were aware of the causes of recent deaths and evacuations along the trail they could develop protocols and procedures to minimise the risk of it happening again. They are currently unable to do this because they have never received any information.

The Australian Government should now instruct its representatives on the Kokoda Track Authority to withdraw from all ‘feel-good’ projects along the Kokoda Trail and indefinitely postpone any further ‘studies’ by consultants.

They should then focus on the immediate development of a proper management plan for Kokoda Trail operations and commit to a Master Memorial Plan to honour the military history of the Kokoda campaign.

The construction of conventional buildings at Owers Corner and steel wire rope swing bridges across creeks at significant battlesites is akin to desecration of the most significant symbol of our involvement in New Guinea during the Pacific War.

Whilst Australia’s assistance for the Owen Stanley Ranges to be listed as a World Heritage Area is a noble cause our commitment to the preservation of the military heritage of the Kokoda campaign is misguided. It is therefore urgent that responsibility for the development of Kokoda as a military interpretive trail be re-allocated to the Office of Australian War Graves.

This will allow the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts to focus on its area of expertise in assisting the PNG Government to achieve a world heritage listing for the Owen Stanley Range.

In the meantime the Australian Government should immediately withdraw from any planned projects between Owers Corner and Kokoda.  Any assistance should be limited to training local communities in appropriate social and community development in partnership with the PNG Department of Community Services.

Australian assistance in the short term should be restricted to the upgrade of the road between Sogeri and Owers Corner to all-weather capability and the upgrade of the Kokoda Airfield to accommodate a Dash-8 aircraft.

Owers Corner Road

The road between Sogeri and Owers Corner is a disgrace and unsafe in the wet – which is most of the time. The recent expenditure of trekkers’ fees on urgent maintenance was a waste of money and akin to a misappropriation of these funds. If anybody is half-serious about sustainable tourism in PNG then the upgrade of this road should be an urgent priority.

Kokoda Airfield

At the other end of the trail the airfield at Kokoda is also a disgrace. The terminal consists of a concrete slab with a metal roof without walls. There is virtually no seating and no toilets. The paying customer, i.e. trekkers, deserve better.

Since 2001 more than 20 thousand Australians have invested around $100 million to trek across the Kokoda Trail. The GST element of these funds would be sufficient to upgrade the road between Sogeri and Owers Corner and the airfield at Kokoda to safe and respectable standard.

The villagers between Owers Corner and Kokoda are now earning more income than ever before. More than $1 million a year is received in wages and campsite fees. The next important step is to teach them how to work together for the greater benefit of their local communities. The proper PNG agency for this work is the PNG Department of Community Services but thus far they have never been consulted or approached.

There is scope for the villagers to increase their earning potential through the maintenance of the trail in preparation for each trekking season. Such maintenance should not be contracted out, as currently planned, because local people along the trail are more than capable of completing this type of work on their land.

In the last budget the Australian Government allocated $10 million to the Office of Australian War Graves for the development of an interpretative trail in France and Belgium to honour the sacrifice of our World War 1 veterans. The work will be completed in time for the centenary of our ANZAC landings on the Gallipoli peninsula.

The Office of Australian War Graves has a proud record in regard to the development and maintenance of our war graves in foreign lands. The expertise they have, and will further attain as a result of the latest budget allocation, should be applied to the Kokoda Trail which is our World War 11 equivalent.

Conclusion

More detail is available in the following submissions which have been largely ignored this far:
http://niusleta.kokodatreks.com/documents/StrategicPlanfortheKokodaTrailNoPics_000.pdf
http://niusleta.kokodatreks.com/documents/ADiscussionPaperontheKokodaEcoTrekkingIndustryNoPics.pdf
http://niusleta.kokodatreks.com/documents/KTAReportbyPaulMitchell17November2006.pdf
http://niusleta.kokodatreks.com/documents/ManagementFramework-KokodaTrackbyPaulMitchell.pdf
http://niusleta.kokodatreks.com/documents/KTADiscussionPaperbyWarrenBartlettNovember2007.pdf

Action Required

PNG Tourism should commission a research agency to determine why people trek Kokoda and what they would like to see in regard to the future development of the Kokoda Trail.

The PNG Kokoda Track Authority should be required to develop a proper management plan for trekking operations across the Kokoda Trail. This includes the certification of trek operators and campsites, the issue of trek permits, a medical insurance plan for PNG guides and carriers, the identification of landowners, a dispute resolution system, a website that allows for trekkers to provide comment on their experience, etc.

The PNG Central and Northern Provincial Governments should provide a plan for the upgrade of the road between Sogeri and Owers Corner and the Kokoda airfield.

The PNG Department of Community Services should prepare a plan for the development of Community Learning Development Centres in villages along the trail.

The Office of Australian War Graves should commission an interpretative memorial plan for the Kokoda Trail.

The impending LNG project in PNG, together with ongoing mining operations, will create heavy demands for airlines and hotels in Port Moresby. These are already at a premium during the trekking season. Kokoda trekkers (and other adventure tourism) needs should be addressed by PNG Tourism if they wish to develop the industry on a sustainable basis.

Recommendations

1. The Office of Australian War Graves be allocated responsibility for the development of an interpretative trail between Owers Corner and Kokoda.

2. The Australian Department of Environment, Heritage, Water and the Arts continue to work in partnership with the PNG Department of Environment and Conservation to achieve a World Heritage listing for the wider Owen Stanley Ranges.

3. PNG Tourism commission a study into the capacity of local airlines and hotels to meet the demand of eco-tourism.

4. The PNG Department of Community Services develop plans for the development of Community Learning Development Centres in villages along the trail.

5. The PNG Kokoda Track Authority developing a proper management plan for the Kokoda trekking industry.

6. PNG Tourism and the PNG Department of Community Services facilitate workshops in selected villagers in Central and Northern Province to determine village community needs and develop short and long term plans.

I do not know where these ‘plans’ are coming from but I do know they are being done without any consultation at all with the paying customer i.e. the trekker.

The research we have conducted with a significant number of people who have trekked with Adventure Kokoda over the past 18 years indicates that they want the track left alone. They want to trek in the footsteps of our diggers as they did it. They do not want boardwalks and bridges.

The construction of bridges at Eora Creek will desecrate one of the most significant battlesites along the Kokoda Trail. It must not be allowed to proceed in the vicinity of the battlesite. If a bridge has to be constructed because of the wish of some bureaucratic zealot it should be located at least 500 metres to the east of the current wartime crossing. It would be a relatively easy task to cut a track to a suitable crossing downstream from the battlesite to allow locals to use it if they wish.

The same principle should apply to the Goldie River, Ofi Creek and Dump 1 Crossing (I have not heard this name before but I assume they are talking about Templeton’s Crossing No 1), i.e. any permanent swing bridges should not be constructed any closer that 500 metres to the wartime track.

It beggars belief that we would want to replace the substantial log bridge that the local people have built between Efogi 2 and Naduri with a permanent swing bridge paid for by the Australian taxpayer. The crossing is not on the wartime track so it is not an issue as far as the protection of our military heritage is concerned – but it is an absolute waste of time, money and effort.

The same applies to the proposed bridge across Elome Creek between Efogi 1 and 2.

The plan for the proposed permanent swing bridges is ill-conceived and should be halted until a proper interpretative memorial plan aimed at protecting the military heritage of the Kokoda Trail is commissioned.

I appreciate the work that has been done along the Kokoda Trail in regard to providing educational and health support for villagers. Whilst nobody can argue about meeting these important needs I have serious reservations about the process used in determining who should be responsible for the work; the priorities/partnerships associated with it; and the ongoing lack of effective management for trekking operations across the Kokoda Trail.

I believe much of the work carried out thus far is a Provincial Government responsibility and is not conducive to a longer term sustainable trekking industry.

Over the past decade I have met with the PNG Secretary of the Department of Education, AusAID staff responsible for education, and Provincial Government representatives to try and identify government and community schools along the track; the numbers of teachers and students in each one; the grades being taught; and a list of the books and supplies they need. Nobody has been able to provide me with this information. We therefore go to Theodist Stationary Suppliers in Port Moresby and make an educated guess for the village school supplies we provide under our ‘Yumi Helpim Pikannini’ program.

 If AusAID, the PNG Education Department and the Central and Oro Provincial Governments could somehow work together I believe most trek operators would cooperate in ensuring the education needs of all schools along the Kokoda Trail were satisfied. This would allow our AusAID money to assist more remote villages off the track in both Provinces.

The same logic applies to health support. 

I would also like to correct the perception that the previous KTA was largely ineffective. This is an unfair slight against the Executive Officer, Warren Bartlett, who was engaged on a salary of around $12,500 p.a. During his tenure he had to manage a Board of Directors who were unqualified for their Board responsibilities and who engaged in corrupt activities. He had no staff; no office; and received no support from either the Australian or PNG Governments. He had to micro-manage all finances; personally process all applications for trek permits; personally supervise all evacuations from along the track; manage grievances from a daily queue of landowners and others seeking help. In spite of this he delivered the following community projects along the track (reference is KTA Newsletter of January 2006):

Central Province

1. Track clearing and log bridge replacement contracts – Owers’ Corner to Templeton Crossing;

2. Part re-decking bridge (Sal Army) on Owers’ Corner Road;

3. Maintenance Owers’ Corner Memorial Park;

4. Maintenance McDonalds’ Corner Memorial;

5. Maintenance Depo Memorial;

6. Supply of Lawnmowers, tools and initial 20 litres petrol to Girinumu (Owers’ Corner), Depo, Bisiatabu, Maninumu, Kagi Airstrip, Efogi Airstrip, Manari Airstrip, Naduri Airstrip;

7. Supply poultry projects (wire mesh, nails, feed, feeders, drinkers, lamp & initial kerosene and box day old chickens x 50) to Vesulogo, Launumu, Efogi (x2), Kagi, Girinumu, Manari (x3), Naduri, Kavovo School;

8. Supply medical kits to Naoro, Manari, Kagi (KTF main funding K1,000 each);

9. School sponsorships – 26 students Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 ( funded 30% KTF, 70% KTA);

10. Repair Kokoda Track VHF radios – Manari, Kagi, Manumu;

11. School supplies – Manari, Kavovo, Efogi, Naoro (KTF main funding K4000 each);

12. Water Supply materials extension of Manari and Lone water reticulation;

13. Supply sporting equipment to youth Manari and Sogeri;

14. Welfare assistance Kagi community;

15. Upgrading camp ground toilets with fibreglass or plastic toilet trunks (ongoing);

16. Supply VHF radio equipment to Owers Corner (Girinumu),and Ioribaiwa (AusAid Homdap + KTA installation costs);

17. Conduct awareness and project inspection patrols;

18. Conduct Sustainable Tourism Workshop at Efogi (funded KTF); and

19. New Signboard for Kokoda National Walking Track at Owers Corner.

Oro Province

1. Clearing and maintenance for upgrading Kokoda Airstrip for Dash 8 aircraft;

2. Kokoda Town clean up;

3. Supply of Lawnmowers, tools and initial 20 litres petrol to Kokoda Memorial Hospital, Kokoda LLG, Kovelo, Gorari Anglican Parish, Kabara Anglican Parish, Sago Anglican Parish, SDA Kokoda;

4. Repairs to Kokoda Town GenSet and supply diesel fuel;

5. Supply Drum Ovens – Isurava and Alola;

6. Supply Coffee Pulpers – Abuari, Kaele, Hagutava;

7. Supply medical kit to Alola (KTF main funding K1000 each);

8. School Supplies – Kokoda, Alola, Kovelo;

9. School sponsorships – 26 students Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 ( funded 30% KTF, 70% KTA);

10. Track Clearing and log bridge replacement contracts – Kovelo to Templeton Crossing;

11. Repair of Kokoda Track VHF radios – Kokoda, Kovelo, Felai, Abuari;

12. Assist with materials and logistics Rotary project Abuari double classroom and aidpost;

13. Supply sports equipment and shields Kokoda Urban Soccer (donated by Adventure Kokoda);

14. Water, showers and toilets improvements – Isurava Memorial Park;

15. Commence set up of Kokoda KTA office;

16. Supply poultry projects (wire mesh, nails, feed, feeders, drinkers, lamp & initial kerosene and box day old chickens x 50) to Hoi, Amanda, Aso, Savaea, Sengi, Kele Dogua, Komo, Manua;

17. Welfare assistance – Biage Community Group, Emo River Village (Malagas Foundation);

18. Supply sewing machines and materials to Mothers Groups at Fala, Dorcas, Felai Lolo, Kebara;

19. Conduct Sustainable Tourism Workshop at Kokoda in July 2005;

20. Upgrade camp ground toilets with fibreglass or plastic toilet trunks (ongoing);

21. Supply new VHF radio equipment – Hoi, Templeton Crossing (Maraba), wind turbine at Mt Fala repeater (AusAid Homdap funded + KTA installation costs);

22. Supply filing cabinet, typewrirter, office stationery to Kokoda LLG;

23. Conduct awareness and project inspection patrols;

24. Conduct Sustainable Tourism Workshop at Kokoda (funded KTA/KTF); and

25. New signboards Kokoda National Walking Track (double sided) at Kokoda Hospital gate.

This is a remarkable achievement in view of the apathy displayed by both the PNG and Australian governments during his tenure; the difficulties of working with a Board of Directors engaged in corrupt activities; a paltry salary; and a lack of qualified staff.

The Kokoda Track Plan for Sustainable Tourism

During this period a Kokoda Track Plan for Sustainable Tourism was developed by Kelvin Templeton of Templeton-Galt and Colonel David Knaggs of Davendish Management Consulting on behalf of the Kokoda Track Foundation. I commissioned the study in my capacity as Chairman of the Kokoda Track Foundation at the time. Templeton-Galt enlisted the support of Dr Stephen Wearing of the University of Technology Sydney and Paul Chatterton of the World Wide Fund for Nature in Papua New Guinea.

The process used in developing the strategic plan involved workshops with former trekkers in Sydney; villagers in Efogi and Kokoda; and government/community stakeholders in Port Moresby.

The following goals and strategies were identified as part of that process:

1. Identify, preserve and promote the military heritage values of the track, to include the development of interpretive memorials at significant locations

2. Preserve the cultural heritage of the people living along the Kokoda Track

3. Provide protection for the Kokoda Track and the Owen Stanley Range as an area of outstanding biodiversity and universal natural heritage value

4. Build capacity in local communities to empower them to effectively participate in, and support, sustainable tourism

5. Develop an integrated approach to land use management and trekking based on sustainable practices

6. Protect and sustainably manage the areas surrounding the Kokoda Track for the benefit of local communities and visitors

7. Introduce effective governance, accountability and transparency to the KTA Committee of Management

8. Implement effective management systems for LLGs and communities

9. Implement and enforce standards and codes of conduct for tour operators, employees, trekkers and host communities

10. Develop and implement training programs for people engaged in tourism-related activities

11. Adapt the Kokoda model for sustainable tourism to other areas of military historical significance in PNG

12. Build the image of the Kokoda Track as a recognised world-class eco-trekking destination

13. Ensure the financial viability of tourism along the track

14. Provide for the safety and security of visitors to the Kokoda Track.

Proposed Strategies

Implementation

Goal 1

Establish a joint AS/PNG Govt organisation to direct and manage the implementation of the plan.

Socio-Economic Development

Goal 2.1

Build capacity in local communities to empower them to effectively participate in, and support, sustainable tourism

• Educate KTA, tour operators, guides, porters and communities in sound ecotourism practices (IES Principles)

• Conduct workshops and education programs in the basic skills needed to support tourism

• Set up a leadership development program for local communities

• Diversify economic activities in communities in order to reduce dependency on tourism

• Conduct research and prepare a report on the social, environmental and recreational carrying capacity of the Track

Goal 2.2:

Develop an integrated approach to land use management and trekking based on sustainable practices

• Sponsor community representatives to participate in training courses that provide the skills necessary to manage community development projects

• Establish community operated nature reserves to show-case local flora and fauna nage community development projects

Environmental Protection

Goal 3.1

Provide protection for the Kokoda Track and the Owen Stanley Range as an area of outstanding biodiversity and universal natural heritage value

• Obtain listing for the Kokoda track and parts of the Owen Stanley Range as a World Heritage site

• Establish a research program to identify and document natural heritage values of the Owen Stanley range

• Produce interpretive materials of the natural environment for trekkers

• Conduct an environmental impact assessment of tourism on the Kokoda Track

Goal 3.2

Minimise the negative impacts of tourism

• Apply to have contiguous areas adjacent to the Track declared as Wildlife Management Areas

• Implement a ranger training and development program for local communities

• Publish guidelines for ecologically sustainable practices to be adopted by tour operators, guides, porters, local communities and trekkers

• Develop an action plan to eradicate invasive exotic plant species on the track

• Introduce a construction code to ensure new buildings, camp sites and facilities are functionally and environmentally appropriate

Cultural Heritage

Goal 4

Preserve the cultural heritage of the people living along the Kokoda Track

• Introduce community programs which nurture and promote cultural heritage

• Publish culturally sensitive design and construction principles for site developments and buildings

• Establish a monitoring and reporting system for the preservation of cultural heritage

Military Heritage

Goal 5

Identify, preserve and promote the military heritage values of the track, to include the development of interpretive memorials at significant locations

• Establish a body to oversee the preservation and promotion of the military heritage values of the Kokoda Track

• Enact appropriate legislation to protect and honour the military heritage of the Kokoda Track (e.g. World Heritage listing)

• Develop a plan for the listing, preservation and commemoration of all significant military sites along the track

• Have the track recognised as a “National Memorial Park”, owned and managed by the customary landowners

• Incorporate military history education into a porter’s/guide’s vocational training program

• Improve the standard of interpretive and commemorative facilities at appropriate sites

• Incorporate WWII re-enactments into community cultural heritage presentations

Government and Management

Goal 6

Introduce effective governance, accountability and transparency to the KTA Committee of Management

• Provide training in good governance and management for the KTA Committee of Management

• Implement effective business systems and standing operating procedures for the KTA Committee of Management

• Conduct regular external audits of accounts and reviews of procedures for the KTA

• KTA to budget for, monitor and regularly report to PNG Govt on operating costs

• Establish effective communications between KTA, LLGs, landowners and tour operators

Goal 6

Implement effective management systems for LLGs and communities

• Develop a leadership and management training program

• Prepare and implement operating procedures

Operational

Goal 7.1

Implement and enforce standards and codes of conduct for tour operators, employees, trekkers and host communities

• A Code of Conduct be developed and enforced outlining appropriate behaviour and protocols for language, litter, cultural and religious observance

• Ensure host communities compliance with guest house standards, protocols and procedures

• Implement an accreditation scheme for tour operators

• Develop and enact minimum conditions of employment for trek leaders, guides, medics and porters

• Legislate to enforce compliance with KTA requirements such as payment of trek fees, appropriate behaviour and adherence to published trek itineraries

Goal 7.2

Develop and implement training programs for people engaged in tourism-related activities

• Appoint or employ a Registered Training Authority (RTA) to establish competencies and qualifications required of KTA approved trek leaders, medics, guides and porters

• Develop and implement training programs and an accreditation scheme for leaders, medics, guides and porters

Goal 7.3

Adapt the Kokoda model for sustainable tourism to other areas in of military historical significance in PNG

• Document the Kokoda Track model

• Apply the model in other locations in the region

Promotion

Goal 8.1

Build the image of the Kokoda Track as a recognised world-class eco-trekking destination

• Develop and implement a marketing plan which identifies potential and existing markets for ecotourism

• TPA to invest 10% of its budget to promote Kokoda and spin-off destinations

• Provide a facility for trekkers and trekking operators to provide feedback on their experience

• Coordinate the marketing efforts of local trekking operators

Goal 8.2

Ensure the financial viability of tourism along the track

• Establish community cooperatives to facilitate the collection and distribution of revenues

• Introduce regional centres for micro-financing and community banking systems

• Obtain commitment from potential donors for recurrent funding to cover the costs of authorised positions on the KTA

• Secure funding for education and community development programs

Financial

Goal 9

Ensure the financial viability of tourism along the track

• Establish community cooperatives to facilitate the collection and distribution of revenues

• Introduce regional centres for micro-financing and community banking systems

• Obtain commitment from potential donors for recurrent funding to cover the costs of authorised positions on the KTA

• Secure funding for education and community development programs

Law and Order

Goal 10

Provide for the safety and security of visitors to the Kokoda Track

• Develop standards of qualifications and competencies for trek leaders, medics, guides and porters

• Implement a community policing system to provide a secure environment for trekkers

I presented a final copy of the report to the Minister for Veterans Affairs and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, The Hon Sir Michael Somare, in April 2006. I can provide a copy of the report, together with a complete recording of all workshops conducted as part of the process to anybody interested in examining it in more detail.

Current Status

We seem to be engaging a reactive shot-gun approach to meeting community needs along the Kokoda Trail. This will undoubtedly make us – and them – feel good in the short term but it will not contribute to a sustainable trekking industry for the future.

The needs of the paying customer i.e. the trekker continue to be ignored. For example, as of 30 June 2009:

• There is no credible Trek Permit system – anybody can apply and receive a permit without any thought going into their medical preparedness to undertake such a grueling physical challenge or into their trek itinerary;

• There is no trek operator accreditation system;

• There is no campsite accreditation system;

• There is no system for trekker/villager feedback;

• There is no training and development system for village clans to ‘work together for good tourism’;

• There is no co-ordinated system for trek operators to provide educational and health support to villagers along the track; and

• There is no interpretative memorial plan;

The two major infrastructure requirements for the development of a sustainable trekking industry along the Kokoda Trail are:

• The upgrading of the gravel road between Sogeri and Owers Corner to an all-weather road; and

• The upgrading of the Kokoda airfield to enable it to accept Dash-8 aircraft.

The current expenditure of $250,000 for studies along the track (Village Livelihood Study, Track Analysis, Social Mapping, Transport Study) is an absolute waste of of time and money at this stage of the process.

The allocation of cash payments to Ward Committees will result in the money ending up in the pockets of a few. A fairer system of distribution would be to throw it out the back of a plane as it flew across a village!  Untied aid has been an abject failure in PNG.

The expenditure of A$33,000 trek fees to repair the road between Sogeri and Owers Corner is wrong. This is a Provincial Government responsibility. The Australian government should work in partnership with the PNG Government and Central Province to ensure it is capable of providing safe passage for trekkers. The amount of repair work that will be achieved with this small amount of money will not last for more than one week after completion – or less if it rains.

The Australian and PNG Governments are receiving a windfall from trekking across Kokoda. Since 2002 more than 20,000 people have trekked Kokoda. Their total expenditure would be in excess of A$100 million. This translates to a GST payment of more than $10 million. In return for this the paying customer, i.e. the trekker, has to negotiate a dangerous road to get to the start of the track; they do not have a single environmental toilet to poop into during their trek; and the condition of the Kokoda airfield does not inspire confidence.

At the moment there is a joint bureaucratic industry developing around the Kokoda Trail but the needs of the trekker, and the landowners across the track, continue to be ignored.  These issues were addressed in a Discussion Paper distributed in September 2007.  It can be viewed at:

http://niusleta.kokodatreks.com/documents/ADiscussionPaperontheKokodaEcoTrekkingIndustryNoPics.pdf

Recommendations

1. Adopt the Kokoda Track Strategic Plan as a blueprint for engaging villages communities, establishing future partnerships, developing a co-ordinated plan for sustainable trekking operations, and monitoring progress.

2. Restrict  Australian funding for the Kokoda Development Program to the upgrading of the road between Sogeri – Owers Corner and the upgrading of the Kokoda airfield to Dash-8 aircraft standard;

2. Conduct village workshops in the Koiari and Orokaiva sections of the Kokoda Trail at the beginning and end of each trekking season to determine needs, set objectives, develop partnerships and conduct reviews;

3. Conduct stakeholder workshops in Port Moresby;

4. Commission a Master Interpretative Memorial Plan for the entire Kokoda Trail;

5. Develop and implement a proper Management Plan for Kokoda trekking operations;

6. Develop a plan to co-ordinate assistance from Kokoda Trek Operators in regard to the delivery of health and education support to villages across the Kokoda Trail; and

7. Develop a plan in partnership with local landowners to construct bridges from bush materials and safety hand-rails from bush materials where requried.  Other than that leave the track alone as trekkers – the paying customers – have a strong desire to trek it as it is.

Further information on trekkers and landowners can be viewed at:

http://blog.kokodatreks.com/2009/05/14/the-kokoda-trekker/

http://blog.kokodatreks.com/2009/05/14/the-kokoda-trail-villager/