THE development of the new Provincial Township for Choiseul Province is progressing steadily, with the first phase now taking shape.
Reports from Taro said the groundwork has commenced, marking a significant progress in the ambitious township project, which is aimed at ensuring urban facilities and services in the province.
Authorities and stakeholders involved in the project have expressed satisfaction about the pace of the development and emphasised its importance to boosting economic opportunities and improving the standard of living for Taro residents and the people of Choiseul Province.
Speaking to Solomon Star in an interview this week, a Taro resident Galo Mulaseni said looking across Choiseul Bay to the mainland where the new township project is, he could see clearance work in progress in preparation for construction work and that machines are on the ground.
“Already local workers who are employed to work on the Taro New Township are on the ground, camping at the construction site.
“Working is actively ongoing and this is a great news for residents of Taro and people of Choiseul Province,” Mr Mulaseni said.
Choiseul Bay Township Project (CBTP) Project Manager Isaac Lekelalu told Solomon Star that the CBTP was a priority project of the previous Provincial Government and it remains a priority project for the current Provincial Government.
Mr Lekelalu said land acquisition efforts commenced years ago when negotiations started between government officials and the Choiseul Bay Trust Board (CBTB).
He said the long years of negotiations successfully resulted in the transfer of the land title to the Choiseul Provincial Government and the CBTB commenced with the sub-division, which was completed it in 2019.
Mr Lekalalu said the final sub-division saw four hundred hectares of land handed over by the Choiseul Provincial Government to the Project Manager for the new provincial township.
Taro Island has long been the Capital of Choiseul Province but the issue of lack of land for expansion was an impediment to its development plans as the island is only 1.5 square kilometres in size.
Originally, a coconut plantation island, Taro is prone to rising sea-levels threatening its shores.
Traditionally known as ‘Tarekukure’ and better known today as Choiseul Bay, the move will ensure there is more room for development for the new Provincial township unlike Taro lacks adequate land for expansion.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
