This exploitation of local carriers would not have been allowed in 1942 and it should not be allowed today.

The PNG Kokoda Track Authority has established a Rangers Station at the start of the trail at Owers Corner but it seems to be all tiger and no teeth as evidenced by a Post Trek Report from one of our Adventure Kokoda trek leaders:

‘We departed Owers Corner the same time as (an Australian) Group of four trekkers and seven carriers.

‘I observed their packs being weighed- the heaviest being over 31kg and the lightest was 28kg.

‘On being told by the ranger that their packs were overweight the head guide informed the ranger that they were happy to carry the packs and that was the end of the matter.

‘On day 2 coming down Imita Ridge one of the (Australian group) carriers blew his knee out and could not continue. The trekkers were travelling well ahead of their carriers who could not keep up with them and consequentially there was no one to treat him. I examined his knee and he appeared to have knee ligament damage and also a torn muscle in his thigh. I left him at Va Ule creek but saw no way he could continue to trek with his pack weight’.

The overloading of local Kokoda porters is related to cost-cutting by rogue trek operators. These operators regard the PNG Kokoda Track Authority as a toothless tiger and they know they can flaunt their Code of Conduct and Licensing Agreement with impunity.

According to the KTA website www.kokodatrackauthority.org there are now 47 licensed trek operators on the Kokoda Trail. They are competing in a market that has declined by 54 per cent over the past year. The most effective way for rogue operators to cut costs is to cut the number of porters for their groups. Local porters are easily exploited in this regard as they there are now fewer opportunities to get work. That is why they advise the Rangers that they are happy to carry the extra weight.

Another major cost in conducting treks is the charter of an aircraft to drop food for the second half of a trek at Efogi village. Feedback indicates that only a couple of trek operators continue with this practice due to increasing charter costs.

If the KTA is genuine in protecting the physical welfare of local porters from exploitation by rogue operators they should address this problem without delay.

The solution is simple. Our experience is that it takes three PNG guides/group and personal carriers to support one Australian trekker. This is based on the following assumptions:

1. The trek operator will comply with the KTA Code of Conduct and limit the maximum weight to be carried by each Carrier to 20 kg.
2. The trek operator has organised a charter flight to deliver supplies for the last half of the trek to Efogi village.
3. Trekkers engage a Personal Carrier – the ratio can be reduced slightly for those trekkers who carry their own backpack.

If the trek operator cannot produce a receipt for a charter aircraft to deliver additional food to Efogi village at the half-way point then the ratio of porters to Australian trekkers in the group should be 5:1. All the Ranger has to do then is count the number of Australian trekkers in a group, count the number of PNG guides and carriers supporting them and multiply by 3  if they can produce a receipt for a charter aircraft, or 5 if they can’t.

This obviously means that rogue trek operators will have to charge more for their treks but it will also mean that more PNG guides and carriers will be employed and it will decrease the risk of physical injury caused by overweight backpacks.

Australian trekkers who do not wish to be party to the shameless exploitation of local PNG Guides and Carriers should ask two simple questions of the trek operator they choose:

1. Have they arranged a charter aircraft for a food resupply at the half-way point?
2. Do they have a ratio of three PNG guides/group and personal carriers for each Australian trekker – or five if there is no pre-arranged half-way drop?

Those who choose to trek with an operator who knowingly overloads their guides and carriers become partners in a shameless act of exploitation which is a poor reflection on the Kokoda spirit.

REF : ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE KOKODA TRACK SPORTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

I wish to thank you, your lovely wife and the Adventure Kokoda Management for financially supporting the Kokoda Track Sports Development Program within this year, 2009.

I had acknowledged your contribution to this very special project in various appropriate forums and have informed the boys and people along the Kokoda Track about your support.

In relation to the outcome of the Program, preparations are now underway by four (4) Local Rugby League Clubs in Queensland who are keen to engage few boys from the Kokoda Track to play in the local Queensland Rugby League Competition next year, 2010. Hopefully, the various Rugby Club offers (Work, Match payments, Accommodation) for the boys should be made available towards the end of January and I will make the announcements in the middle or towards the end of February, 2010.

Also the Gold Coast Titans Junior Development Team Management are keen to recruit school boys from the Kokoda Track area next year to be part of the Gold Coast Titans Junior Development Team under Football Scholarships. We will announce this program shortly.

Since you have pioneered in supporting this program, I trust you will continue to support this program.

I look forward to continue working with you in this very special Project in the New Year. Also I take this opportunity to wish you, your wife and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, 2010

Yours sincerely,

Jame Enage
Chairman

PO Box 545
Boroko NCD 1 11
Papua New Guinea
P: (+675) 323 6165
F: (+675) 323 6020
E.:kokodatrackauthority@global.net.pg

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 also appreciate that many of our trekkers have experienced other world class trekking adventures in Nepal, South America, New Zealand, etc and could provide valuable input into the proposed KTA licensing system which is explained below.

THE KOKODA TRACK AUTHORITY LICENCING SYSTEM FOR TREK OPERATORS

Background and Context

On the 24th September 2009 the Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) Management Committee passed a resolution that Commercial Tourism Licences (CTL) will be in force for commercial tourism operations as of the start of the 2010 trekking season.

The purpose of the licences is to provide:

• An enhanced experience for trekkers
• Increased certainty for tour operators
• Compliance with PNG laws and regulations
• Respect for local culture and land owners
• Environmental sustainability
• A safer environment, and
• Fairness to workers

The KTA Management Committee will consult with stakeholders to ensure that the licence system is well designed and promotes beneficial outcomes. The schedule of consultation will include an Issues Paper, Tour Operator Forum in Port Moresby on 20th November 2009, and individual discussions with interested parties.

The CTL is not a revenue raising exercise. A fee will be set as a cost recovery measure.  A CTL is intended to set minimum standards. Higher standards will be promoted through the Code of Conduct and Certification programs.

Key Questions

1. What will be covered in a licence?

It is expected that a CTL will cover the areas listed in the table below.  Additional requirements will be determined through consultation.

Proposed conditions below:

Requirement:

Training
• Carry a First Aid kit (to be determined with assistance from medical authorities)
• Have at least one Tour Guide per party to have a current Senior First Aid Certificate
Checked by KTA Rangers on the Track

Legal
• Hold a PNG Company registration, or contract engaging a PNG registered company
• Adhere to relevant PNG laws and regulations
Photocopy of registration or contract with CTL application (no financial or commercial in confidence details required)

Insurance
• Hold current company public liability insurance
Photocopy of policy

Communications
• Carry a tuned VHF radio and/or satellite phone
Checked by KTA Rangers on the Track

Group size
• Clearly advertise maximum group size to prospective clients on company marketing materials
KTA will check websites and promotional material

Trekking Fees
• Must purchase a KTA trekking permit
Checked by KTA Rangers on the Track

Respect for culture and land ownership
• Sabbath (to be negotiated with communities)
• Alcohol
• Modesty
Statement to intent to respect the wishes of the communities

Porters
• Ensure maximum pack weight is (suggestion) no more than 25 kgs
• Supply of adequate food, equipment & accommodation to Porters whilst on Track
Checked by KTA Rangers on the Track

KTA reporting
• Medivac reporting [compulsory] (Information to be shared in monthly newsletter – Tour operator will not be identified)
• Track condition reports [optional]

2. How long will a CTL last?

It is expected that a CTL will be issued for three years on a “use it or lose it” basis. If an operator does not use their licence during a calendar year then it will be revoked and a new CTL application required.

3. What will a CTL cost?

The CTL is not a revenue raising exercise and the fee will be set as cost recovery measure. It is estimated that the fee will be between K50 and K100.

4. How will licences be enforced?

Kokoda Track permits will only be issued to Licenced operators. KTA Rangers will continue to check permits along the Track and will weigh porter’s packs. Campsites administrators will record tour operator’s license number/name when any group stays.

The expected compliance regime is as follows:

Penalties for non-compliance:

1. Operating without a license:
a. Financial penalty (subject to revised regulations)
b. Posting of non-compliant operator’s names on the KTA website and KTA notice-boards along the Track

2. Licensed operator not complying with license conditions
a. Serious breach – cancel license
b. First minor breach – official written warning
c. Second minor breach – official second written warning
d. Third minor breach – cancellation of license for at least one year

5. When will the requirements of the Licence be finalized?

Licence conditions will be finalized and communicated to stakeholders before
Christmas 2009. The aim is to have licences in place by 30th March 2009.

6. How will smaller operators be protected?

The CTL is not designed to prevent new operators joining the Industry or to make it impossible for existing operators to continue. Costly requirements such as the need for radios and/or satellite phones can be managed through an operator co-operative and other initiatives that the KTA is willing to explore in consultation with tour operators.

7. What about work permits for non-PNG tour leaders?

Currently there is conflicting advice on what work permits are required for a non-PNG national tour leader. The KTA is currently liaising with relevant government departments to determine whether there is a case for seeking a new work permit category that allows multiple entries over a specific period of time. The KTA will continue to explore this issue and provide feedback as further information becomes
available.

8. How will CTLs be processed?

CTLs will have a simple application form that will be processed in the KTA office. Once a CTL has been granted the licenced operator will be entered into a permit database so permits can be processed quickly and easily.

9. Why not a voluntary system?

The KTA Management Committee believes there is a need for a properly regulated industry where the Authority has the power to prevent operators who fail to deliver on basic requirements from jeopardizing the future of the Industry. A voluntary code does not enable the KTA to prevent operators who continue to undertake unsafe or illegal activities from conducting treks.

The KTA encourages the creation of voluntary codes of conduct, certification and/or accreditation schemes to provide opportunities for tour operators to operate at higher standards and to promote themselves to clients in this way. However, it is not common for the regulator to operate certification or accreditation schemes. These are normally operated by Industry Associations or private companies.

10. Why are medical checks for trekkers not included in the Licence?

This is a difficult issue in that medical checks do not provide a full-proof system that guarantee that serious injury and/or death will not occur. Doctors involved in this field have advised the KTA that they can (and have) produced guidelines and a simple checklist for family doctors to utilize but caution that this will not guarantee that problems will not occur while trekkers are on the Track.

At this stage we believe medical checks fit more appropriately in a Code of Conduct but we are willing to discuss this further and, perhaps, make it a CTL condition that tour operators must ensure each client has a recent medical certificate. This could well be a challenge for local operators and those managing the PNG elements of overseas treks as the clients are booked by others and arrive in country, often, to start trekking the same day.

11. How do I provide feedback?

Use the ‘Leava a Reply’ box below.

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.

Owers Corner is a significant site.  It is here that the road ends and the pilgrimage for thousands of Australians begins.  It is where our diggers manhandled massive 25-pounder guns into position to provide heavy fire support to our troops on Imita Ridge for the first time in the Kokoda campaign.

In years to come, when an all-weather road is completed, thousands more will make the journey to see where Australian diggers began their march towards the advancing Japanese army.

The site is ideal for the development of a replica 1942 army depot built from bush materials with a battery of 25-pounders in position.   The buildings could be easily designed for functional use as a police post, an administrative centre, a Koiari tree house, a store/café/picnic area, a diorama that tells the story of the Kokoda campaign and a local arts and crafts area.

The area should also have an interpretative gateway that reminds trekkers of the significance of the ground they are about to trek through.

The recent buildings and structures at Owers Corner are akin to desecration of the site.  They have been built without consulting veterans’ organisations or trekkers.  The buildings are straight off a standard Department of Works plan and the giant iron structure that purports to be a gateway is totally out of character with the surrounding environment.

Trekkers and visitors travel to Owers Corner because of the military significance of the site.  If the site was planned to reflect the military and cultural heritage of the area it would generate economic activity that would maximise the benefit the local communities.

The historical significance and economic potential of the Owers Corner site deserves better.  The Australian government must commission an interpretative memorial plan for the Kokoda Trail without delay and before any more money is wasted.

Dear Charlie,

As a trekker who walked the Kokoda Track with you in 2007, and now as the Head of the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts I would like to respond to the concerns you have recently raised publicly in relation to Australia’s efforts to assist PNG to protect the Kokoda Track. I note that some of these points have already been outlined in other correspondence to you from this department.

Military Heritage

The Australian Government is committed to protecting the Kokoda Track because of its special place in our history and the incredible sacrifices made by our troops. As an example, in 2007 in recognition of the Track’s military significance, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs received $0.9 million to upgrade its Kokoda Track website, and we have commissioned a study (soon to be made public) by the Australian War Memorial to investigate the location of the wartime routes of the Kokoda Track.

Assisting PNG to protect the Track

In addition to protecting the historic value of the Track, we are mindful that the Track is PNG territory and is home to thousands of local people. As such we have agreed with the PNG Government that we will pursue a number of associated objectives including: improving the livelihoods of local communities along the track; building PNG management capacity; and protecting an important potential power and water source for Port Moresby.

We are actively working to assist the PNG Government to: establish and roll out the Kokoda Development Program (KDP) to improve basic services for local people living along the Track (including healthcare, education, water, sanitation, radio networks and transport); reform the Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) to improve administration and track management arrangements; develop a Code of Conduct for tour operators working along the Kokoda Track; and build PNG Government capacity to manage this special area.

Supporting sustainable development of local communities

In relation to the KDP, as a result of our efforts, the program has: refurbished the Efogi health centre; vaccinated more than 150 children; trained 23 village health volunteers; distributed health supplies to clinics; completed the first health patrol of the catchment area for more than a decade, with five more patrols planned for 2009; flown teachers to villages for the start of the 2009 school year; distributed curriculum materials to 22 schools; upgraded the radio network in three villages; and completed a water supply system in Efogi. Additional activities scheduled to commence in mid-2009 include: classroom and toilet construction in a number of villages; installation of water supply systems in Naoro 1 and 2; and the trial of a subsidised air transport program.

Sustainable Livelihoods Project

This project, aimed at developing income-generating options for local communities, was agreed by both the PNG and Australian Governments as a key element of the Joint Understanding, and quotes to undertake this work were sought from organisations and individuals identified by both Governments to have professional expertise in similar work in PNG or elsewhere in the Pacific.

While trek operators will be consulted as a key element of the project, it would be a clear conflict of interest to directly engage an operator with associated commercial interests to undertake this work. We also need to ensure that we include the full range of perspectives in such a study, and not only those of tour operators.

The supplier was selected through a competitive evaluation process undertaken jointly by the PNG and Australian Governments. The selected tender team includes Mr Sandy Lawson, who you have highly recommended to the Government for work in this area, and Associate Professor Stephen Wearing, an expert in tourism at the University of Technology Sydney, with whom you have previously worked. The proposed approach, including selecting the villages to be visited, was discussed with and endorsed by the PNG Government.

Improving management of the Track itself

As you are aware, the former KTA was largely ineffective. We have therefore devoted considerable time and money to assist the PNG Government to put in place improved management arrangements. While there is obviously much more work to be done, the KTA and the new KTA Management Committee, with the assistance of the Australian Government funded experts, has focused its initial efforts on establishing effective trek fee collection and permit issuing processes and putting in place agreed arrangements for distributing benefits to land owners and local communities. I am sure you will be pleased to learn that, as a result of these efforts, the first direct payments to local communities have now been made. On 5 June 2009, the KTA deposited K45, 000 into five separate Kokoda Track Ward Development Committee accounts, and has an additional K35, 000 ready to be distributed to the other nine Wards as soon as they register their Committees and open a bank account. A further K70, 000 will be distributed at the end of June and another K70, 000 by the end of September. This is the first time since the KTA was established that funding from trek fees has gone directly to local communities.

Application of Australian Track Standards

In response to your concerns about the potential application of the Australian Walking Track Standards to the Kokoda Track, the KTA (the organisation with responsibility for the management of the Track) has confirmed that it has only considered using these guidelines in relation to track works, and has no plans to use the guidelines in relation to wider issues such as campsites, facilities and publicity. I can assure you that your concerns regarding any intention to close down trekking operators are unfounded – in fact, our efforts are focused on keeping the Track open.

World Heritage

As outlined in the Joint Understanding, the Australian Government is committed to assisting PNG to undertake a feasibility study for a possible World Heritage nomination of the Owen Stanley Ranges and the Track, if and when the PNG Government chooses to do so. Australia has no role in nominating any part of PNG for World Heritage listing – this is solely the responsibility of the PNG Government. Following a request from PNG in 2007, Australia agreed to provide expertise and resources to assist PNG develop a World Heritage Nomination.

The Department’s Heritage Division has a team dedicated to this program. I invite you to contact the Division Head, Catherine Skippington, or the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to Kokoda, Mr Sandy Hollway, if you have any concerns regarding the Australian Government’s involvement. In this way we can continue to provide you with up to date and accurate information in relation to the Kokoda program.

Yours sincerely,

Robyn Kruk AM
Secretary
18 June 2009

The Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts was assigned responsibility for Australia’s role and responsibilities in regard to the ‘Joint Understanding’.

Whilst I believe the pursuit of a World Heritage listing is a noble goal it should not be at the expense of the historic military significance of the Kokoda Trail.

I believe the Kokoda Trail should be developed as a national memorial trail that reflects the military significance of the Kokoda campaign.

This should be separated from the feasibility study for a World Heritage nomination for the broader Owen Stanley Ranges and be reallocated to the Office of the Australian War Graves Commission.

Background

The Kokoda Trail had been virtually ignored by successive Australian governments since the end of the war in 1945. It was not until former Prime Minister Paul Keating attended the 50th anniversary of the Kokoda campaign in PNG in 1992 that it resonated again in our national consciousness.

Unfortunately the Department of Veterans Affairs had no vision and no plan for Kokoda at the time. On 18 February 2001 the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Bruce Scott MP, wrote: ‘It will come as no surprise to you then that the ‘Government Master Plan’ of which you inquire ‘for the development of the Kokoda Track as a national memorial park’ does not exist ‘.

In spite of this official apathy public awareness increased with the publication of a number of best-selling books on Kokoda and the screening of television features.

Villagers along the track soon began to agitate for increased benefits from the emerging trekking industry. Prior to 2002 they did not have a co-ordinated forum to express their concerns so they took direct action and blocked the track in various places.

During negotiations to re-open the track after a lengthy blockage at Kovello a trek permit system was implemented and a trek fee of PNGK200 was introduced. The purpose of the trek fee was to ensure that villagers received shared benefits from the emerging trekking industry.

The PNG Kokoda Track Authority was established in 2004 and an Australian expatriate and former Kiap, Mr Warren Bartlett, was appointed as Chief Executive on a salary of A$13,000. He was not allocated any staff.

A Board of Directors was appointed but they were not qualified for the role. The Board quickly became dysfunctional and more than a $1 million was misappropriated.

Neither the Australian nor PNG governments displayed any interest in the dysfunction of the Authority until a proposal to mine a section of the Kokoda Trail became public.

The resultant outcry caused an over-reaction from the Australian government. It was obviously decided that the best protection against any future applications to mine or log any part of the trail would be to have it listed as a World Heritage site.

The Heritage Division of the Department of Environment, Heritage and the Arts was allocated responsibility for working with the PNG Department of Environment and Conservation to bring this about.

A new Board was appointed by the PNG Government and Australian representatives from the Department of Environment, Heritage and the Arts were assigned to work with the Authority and the PNG Department of Environment and Conservation.

Joint Understanding

A Joint Understanding covering ‘both the sustainable development of communities along the Kokoda Track corridor, and protection and sustainable use of the natural and cultural resources of the broader Owen Stanley Ranges region’ was signed on 23 April 2008.

The first hint of our ‘big brother’ approach is our refusal to use the official name as recorded on the statute books of the PNG Government i.e. ‘The Kokoda Trail’ (PNG Government Gazette No. 88 of 12 October 1972, page 1362, column 2. Notice 1972/28 of the PNG Place Names Committee refers).

Of more concern is the fact that the Joint Understanding does not contain any references to the military significance of the Kokoda Trail. The words ‘Kokoda campaign – military history – memorials – battlesites – etc’ do not rate a mention in the entire document. I regard this as a serious omission.

Process

From my viewpoint – as a trek operator, a trek leader with 55 crossings of the trail over the past 18 years, the son of a New Guinea veteran, a Vietnam Veteran with 21 years army service, and one with a long term interest in the preservation of the military history of the Kokoda campaign – the process seems to be seriously flawed thus far.

There has obviously been a lot of activity at the departmental level as representatives have been assigned to PNG and others have flown into villages by chartered aircraft to familiarise themselves with their needs.

There has also been much talk – a conference with academics in Canberra, superficial meetings with trek operators, and discussions with other ‘stakeholders’. To date these have not yielded any identifiable outcomes along the track.

For example one of the objectives in the Joint Understanding was to ‘address immediate needs for the 2008 trekking season and create interim Kokoda Track management arrangements’.

I have trekked Kokoda six times since April 2008 and I can report that not a single outcome has been achieved in this regard – and we are now well into the 2009 trekking season!

Another objective was to conduct ‘an economic participation study to cover such options as agriculture, food services for trekkers, and participation in delivering development programs’.

Nothing has happened in this regard!

I have advised of the availability of an agricultural scientist who is fluent in Tok Pisin and Motu and has worked extensively in Melanesia. That person has written extensively on the needs of the Koiari and has previously worked for the (now-defunct) Koiari Development Corporation. He is currently living in semi-retirement in Australia and is willing and able to live in villages for extended periods of time to assist them with agricultural development and value-adding activities. He would also be able to provide valuable feedback on the cultural and environmental impact of the current trekking industry.

My requests to engage this person over the past 18 months have been ignored.

I understand AusAID has completed a survey of the Kokoda Trail but this has not been distributed to trek operators or villagers for comment. This is not conducive to an atmosphere of trust between the key stakeholders and the Department of Environment, Heritage and the Arts.

I could go on!

Outcomes

Whilst there has obviously been a great deal of departmental activity in regard to the Joint Understanding I can report that, after 15 months, there has not been a single outcome on the track. For example:

• There is no credible Trek Permit system in place
• There is no campsite booking system.
• There is no trek operator accreditation system.
• There is no standardised medical clearance form for trekkers.
• There is no co-ordinated system for medical evacuations in place.
• There is no campsite accreditation system in place.
• There is not a single environmental toilet between Owers Corner and Kokoda.
• There has been no attempt to identify clan leaders and landowners along the track.
• There has not been a single workshop in either the Koiari or Orokaiva areas on the track to identify villager needs.
• There is no minimum standard of pay and conditions for PNG trek guides and carriers.
• There is no training or development system in place to assist villagers to ‘value-add’ to the opportunities presented by trekkers passing through their villages.
• No action has been taken to identify (and make safe) unexploded ordnance along the trail.
• There is no plan to upgrade the road between Sogeri and Owers Corner to a safe all-weather standard.

The Australian Trekker

Australian trekkers make a significant commitment in both money and time when they decide to trek Kokoda. In return for this investment they need to be assured they will be safe and that they will learn about the military history of the Kokoda campaign; the culture of the Koiari and Orokaiva people along the track; and the physical environment.

They also expect to have hygienic toilet and ablution facilities at campsites along the trail.

Trekkers are the basic building block of a sustainable trekking industry along the Kokoda Trail. Without them there are no benefits for villagers to share. Unfortunately their needs have been ignored thus far.

The Koiari/Orokaiva Villager

The land in question is owned by traditional Koiari and Orokaiva landowners. The tracks connecting villages between Owers Corner and Kokoda have special significance to our military heritage because of the desperate campaign fought across it during the period 27 July to 2 November 1942.

Clans along the Kokoda Trail are the custodians of land sacred to our military heritage. They will protect and nurture our battlesites provided they receive benefits for doing so.

Villagers are currently missing out on significant potential earnings because they are yet to be taught the concept of ‘value-adding’.

Teaching them to wash and dry trekkers gear, brew coffee, bake scones and produce village billum bags is not PhD stuff. This year they will miss out on the opportunity to earn at least PNGK 1 million because of a lack of basic training in these areas.

The construction of interpretative memorials at significant sites on their land will also provide them with an incentive to further ‘value-add’ to a trekkers Kokoda experience.

Stakeholders

There are many people and organisations of goodwill who want to do good things as a result of their Kokoda experience.

If this is harnessed in a co-ordinated way the PNG government would not have to spend any funds along the trail for education or health services. This would allow them to work with Provincial and Local Level Governments to support Koiari and Orokaiva villages in remote areas off the trail.

Currently there is no plan – and there is no co-ordination. The end result is that inappropriate memorial structures have been erected; inappropriate structures have been build for health and education purposes; and village children are showing signs of tooth decay because of the amount of lollies handed out.

Two recent examples indicate the state of planning flux in the Department of Environment, Heritage and the Arts:

• During the last two weeks of this month a team from the Kokoda Track Foundation was dispatched to Kokoda to do a ‘livelihood study’ in villages along the track. It seems that the PNG Kokoda Track Authority did not know they were doing it until they arrived in country. The Kokoda Track Foundation is a registered charity – their lack of experience with villagers along the track means they were ill-equipped for the task. Nobody seems to have been consulted on the tender process, the terms of reference; or the desired outcomes for the study.

• On 31st March we received a request to assist a company who has been asked to tender for a ‘Condition Analysis’ of the 96 Km Kokoda Trail. We do not know if the tender refers to today’s popular eco-tourist track; the wartime trail, the original route of the 39th Battalion; the eastern side of the Yodda Valley where the 53rd Battalion fought; or the connecting tracks to and from Lake Myola 1 and 2. We do not know what the terms of reference are, or the required outcomes. The company has been given 5 days time to submit their tender!

These studies are a sham and are obviously motivated by the need to spend money before the end of the current financial year. Neither study is related to an assessment of the military heritage of the trail; the needs of the paying customer i.e. the trekker; or the needs of villagers who will shortly be getting fed up with the number of inexperienced and ill-informed consultants asking banal questions about their needs and lifestyles.

Non-government, community and charitable organisations not involved in trekking should also be encouraged to direct their goodwill to village areas remote from the Kokoda Trail as part of a strategy to ensure shared benefits are more widely spread.

The Kokoda Honeypot Effect

I first trekked Kokoda in 1991. In 1994 I submitted a paper on the need to develop Kokoda as a national memorial park. In 2000 I founded the Kokoda Track Foundation to develop a strategic plan for Kokoda. This was completed and presented to Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and the Australian Minister for Veterans Affairs in 2006.

My purpose has always been to develop Kokoda as a model that could be used for other Pacific War battlesites in PNG – the Black Cat Track, Shaggy Ridge, Buna/Gona, Rabaul, etc.

Unfortunately everybody has flocked to Kokoda. There are now more than 30 trek operators and a myriad of other stakeholder organisations seeking to do ‘good things’ along the trail. It risks being overwhelmed with goodwill while nearby villages off the track are neglected. This has the potential to lead to dissent and disruption in the longer term. For example landowners on Mt Victoria are continually sabotaging the VHF communications tower.

We therefore need a strategic plan to get a proper balance in our approach to honouring the legacy of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and coastwatchers throughout New Guinea during the Pacific War.

Ministerial Responsibility

In the latest budget an amount of $10 million was allocated to the Office of Australian War Graves Commission for the development of an interpretative trail in France and Belgium to honour the sacrifice of our veterans in WW1.

The same approach needs to be adopted for Kokoda which is our interpretative trail for WW11.

Conclusion

Kokoda is a national shrine. The trail between Owers Corner and Kokoda contains battlesites sacred to our military heritage. The expertise gained by the Office of Australian War Graves in the development and management of the interpretive trail in France and Belgium should be applied to Kokoda.

The Office of Australian War Graves should establish a close partnership with the Department of Environment, Heritage and the Arts who administer the Act that has Kokoda listed as an Overseas Area of Special Significance. The Department of Environment, Heritage and the Arts s also responsible for the broader long-term goal of working with the Government of PNG to achieve a World Heritage listing.

The Office of Australian War Graves should also work in partnership with PNG Tourism to develop models for visits and treks to other significant military historical sites throughout PNG.

Recommendation

I recommend that responsibility for the development of an interpretive trail between Owers Corner and Kokoda be transferred from the Department of Environment, Heritage and the Arts to the Office of Australian War Graves.

Charlie Lynn
Adventure Kokoda
PO Box 303
Camden
NSW 2570
charlie@kokodatreks.com.au