THE Honiara City Council together with the Country Planning Board (CPB) has been urged to proactive in executing their duty to ensure residents abide to council laws.
Chris Sae a Public Servant and a Honiara resident told the Solomon Star Tuesday.
He said the raise in illegal settlement within the town boundary is a serious concern thus something the HCC and the Country Planning Board (CPB) need to consider addressing it.
“It’s an eyesore to witness everywhere in Honiara, people continue to build homes (houses) anywhere and whenever they want to.
“Is the town and country planning board still alive or are they still napping,” he questioned.
Sae said, he is aware that to build a residential home or house within the town boundary all must be approved by the town and country planning board.
“But now, things seem to change with people ignoring right protocols but rather go on to build anywhere they want to build.”
He added that there should be a concern by the Honiara City Councillors about how people build their homes/houses within the town boundary without any approval by the town and country planning board.
“Take a walk and follow the road up to Mbokona near the SIEA (Solomon Power). You will be surprise to see a lot of leaf houses build along the stream.
“Did they acquire those plots of lands legally? Who approved their building plans? Who told them to build there,” Sae queried.
He said erecting of residential buildings without the HCC approval is a breach of council laws.
“Did the town and country planning board aware of such development or are they still napping.
“I though its time the HCC and CPB must wake up from their slumber and do something to address this issue once and for all. The sooner the better,” he said.
It is understood in 2015 about 20 practitioners attended the workshop, organised by Honiara City Council Town and Country Planning Board, supported by Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey and the Secretariat of Pacific Community (SPC).
The workshop provided an opportunity for local architects and engineers to find out first-hand how the new Honiara Local Planning Scheme (HLPS) 2015, which came into effect on 13th October 2015, will affect future development proposals in Honiara
The chairman of the Honiara Town and Country Planning Board (HTCPB) Eddie Ngava’s message at that time to local architects and engineers who attended the workshop said:
“Cowboy development is a thing in the past.
“From today, we want developments that will improve the identity of our City and create public benefits to Honiara residents.”
But Sae said the chairman message does not reflect the current trend of development that is going on in Honiara.
He questioned the City Council and Country Planning Board whether its new HLPS 2015 is still in existence and active.
“It seems like the new scheme is already inoperative. By the look, one can tell that the development within Honiara is nothing more or less but lack proper planning and approval by the town and country planning board.
“Where are the new practices imposed to ensure orderly city developments,” Mr Sae queried.
By STEPHEN DIISANGO
