WATER PNG has secured interim court orders from the Waigani National Court restraining the Behori Landowners from continuing a blockade that is halting vital infrastructure maintenance work.
The court orders clear the way for urgent repair work to proceed on the Rouna 1/3 raw water pipeline, which had previously been delayed.
A partial water shutdown required for the repairs has now been rescheduled for the weekend of Friday, August 14, 2026.
The interim order restrains the Behori Incorporated Land Group, its members, and its agents from blocking, obstructing, or hindering Water PNG’s access to the pipeline.
The repairs were initially scheduled for July 31 and expected to take up to 64 hours. However, work was halted when local landowners erected a roadblock over unresolved compensation claims.
Chairman of the Behori Clan, Foxie Kaeake, said customary landowners have historically worked closely with Water PNG by granting access to their land, but noted that Water PNG has failed to address their financial grievances.
Meckles Poya, Chairman of the Water PNG Board and Management, emphasized that the utility seeks to work in partnership with land groups nationwide and stressed the importance of maintaining harmony and goodwill.
“We respect the Behori Clan and their deep connection to their land, and at the same time Water PNG has a responsibility under the law to make sure people have safe water for drinking, cooking and sanitation,” Poya said.
Poya warned of the severe public health consequences if repairs remain stalled, noting that if the water supply fails, disease can spread, people get sick, and lives can be lost, with vulnerable populations like children and the elderly affected first.
“The Behori people have lived alongside this pipeline for more than sixty years, and through this repair program the clan has been cooperative. Behori-owned contractors have been engaged and paid for works supporting the repairs, grading the access road to the damaged section, digging drainage channels and other site preparations,” Poya said.
He explained that when the blockade was erected across the site’s access road, Water PNG was left with no option but to seek legal intervention.
“Under the National Water Supply and Sanitation Act 2016, Water PNG has clear authority and a duty to access and maintain this infrastructure for the community it serves. Having the matter before the Court provides the reassurance of the law for everyone,” he said.
Poya added that Water PNG remains open to continuing dialogue with the customary landowners.
“This is a sixty-year relationship, and Water PNG wants it to continue, through these repairs, and through the long-term renewal of this corridor in the years ahead,” Poya said.
From an operational standpoint, Water PNG Chief Executive Officer James Young confirmed that preparations have restarted and operations will proceed starting Friday, August 14.
The court orders remain in effect pending a further hearing by the National Court.
