Ela Beach Development: A Climate Change Disaster

 

For more information contact Mr. Jonah Auka,
Manager - Projects Branch, Adaptation and
Project Division, Climate Change and Development
Authority.  Email: Jonahauka@gmail.com

By TEAM GULF, WESTERN AND CENTRAL PROVINCE

The Ela Beach Development Project in Port Moresby poses environmental risks as it did not consider Climate Change impacts.

The Ela Beach Development Project was delivered between 2016 and 2018 in preparation for the 2018 APEC Leader’s Summit held in Port Moresby. The multi-million-kina project included the redevelopment of Port Moresby’s popular recreational site, Ela Beach.

This redevelopment included the reclamation of land, the reconstruction of the Ela Beach road as a four-lane road, the construction of the Ela Beach park and the APEC Haus.

Participants of the Advancing Papua New Guinea’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) workshop at Hilton Hotel, Port Moresby from 24-29 April 2022, revisited the redevelopment site to evaluate the structures built and consider their resilience to the impacts of climate change.

The Advancing Papua New Guinea’s National Adaptation Plan workshop was facilitated by the Climate Change Development Authority, the University of Papua New Guinea and the United Nations Development Program with funding support from the Green Climate Fund.

The workshop participants included officers from the provincial administrations and partners of the Highlands and Southern Regions and was aimed at assisting provinces to prepare their provincial climate adaptation plans as Papua New Guinea prepares its National Climate Adaptation Plan geared to building the country’s climate resilience.

Is this fish market building at Koki durable
and Climate Change resilient?

Participants visited the Koki Fish Market, then walked the Ela Beach road to the APEC Haus as part of their assessment of the development following four years after its construction. The participants made the following assessments.

Participants observed that the Koki Fish Market is aesthetically beautiful but:

. It is not a climate change resilient building; and

. Materials used to construct the building are not climate change resilient, with some posts currently rusting, which brings about concerns for the cost of maintenance.  

“The building itself seemed to be sinking. At the rate of sea-level rise and its current height above sea level, it may take only a few more years before the building is submerged. It is also uncertain how the structure can withstand the climate change-induced wind and wave action of cyclone and storm surges that follow the changing seasons in Port Moresby,” their report stated.

Participants walked the Ela Beach road observed the sea wall and noted that it was built to protect the road from the sea and its environmental impact, but highlighted the lack of durability in the materials used to build the wall in addition to the structure of the wall itself.

They pointed out that: “Weathering of building materials has occurred exposing the inner materials to the elements and decreasing its lifespan.  The wall structure is vertically built when it would have been more appropriate to be slanted at an angle to withstand wave and wind action.”

What's wrong with this road at Ela Beach?

They said: “The Ela Beach road was also observed to be sinking; drainage is poor, and there is saltwater intrusion leading to the accumulation of water on the tarmac affecting the stability of the road infrastructure itself as well as creating potholes and a hazard to traffic and pedestrians.”

Participants observed that the three rock groins at the Ela Beach were built from limestone without considering wind, sea current, wave action as well as the rising sea level.

“Sand initially deposited as part of the Ela Beach development has been washed back into the sea as water is redirected by the rock groins.  Rock groins are usually built for shoreline protection.  In the case of the Ela Beach development, the rock groins are redirecting waves that are eroding the shoreline, not serving its purpose and instead having the opposite effect,” they reiterated.

Do you think the APEC Haus will last as a 
permanent structure amidst Climate Change impact?

In their final assessment of the APEC Haus, they observed that it is not climate-resilient.

“Firstly, we believe the structure does not comply with the building standard and codes for PNG. The APEC Haus structure includes the reclaimed land it is built on as well as the building itself. The structure is sinking,” they stressed.

They further warned based on expert opinion gained from lecture notes at the NAP workshop by lecturers from the Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Papua New Guinea, that the APEC Haus is not going to last as a permanent structure given the building materials and foundation of the reclaimed land the building is built on, as well as the changing environmental parameters impacting it.  

"This includes the rising sea level. Cyclone influences across Southern Papua New Guinea are predicted to intensify and increase in frequency. The APEC Haus is not built to withstand the category of cyclones and storm surges already occurring and predicted as climate impacts to Port Moresby continue,” they said.

Participants arrived at the conclusion that: 

. “The multi-million-kina Ela Beach Development Project was built to be aesthetically pleasing but unfortunately not built to be climate resilient despite expert advice provided at the time of planning and construction;

Will this aesthetically beautiful Ela Beach
park survive the test of Climate Change impact?

. “The Ela Beach Development Project did not take into consideration Climate Change impacts;

. “Planning and construction of structures in the redevelopment were not built to be climate change resilient making this development a temporary project destined to be eroded and lost as climate change impacts are felt into the future; and

. “The Ela Beach Development Project is an example of what should not be done as Papua New Guinea adapts to a life with the changing climate."  

Participants recommended that legislation be enacted to ensure climate change is included in all future development projects.

A National Capital District Commission (NCDC) staff present at the workshop said the Ela Beach Development Project was bulldozed by politicians without adhering to technical advice by experts based on all existing relevant laws, policies, and regulations in place.

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