PM Transcripts

_ AUST ALIA~
PRIME MINISTER June 1974
Press Statement No. 257
MAJOR DEVELOPMENT AT PORT MORESBY AIRPORT
The Prime Minister, Mr E. G. Whitlam, M. P.,
announced today that a $ 7.6 million contract had been awarded f or
major development works at the Port Moresby airport.
Mr Whitlan said the work included construction of
a new runway, taxiways, parking apron and associated works. The
project was being wholly financed by the Australian Government as an
aid project for the Papua New Guinea Government, and was the
culmination of close co-operation between the two governments
on all aspects of the airport development.
The contract had been awarded to Hornibrook/ Curtaii,
a joint venture formed by two companies based in Papua New Guinea.
It was expected that work would start this financial year, and that
the project would be completed by August, 1976.
Mr Whitlam said the new runway would be 2,750m ( 9,000 ft)
long, capable of handling fully laden Boeing 727-200 and 707 aircraft,
and also the larger Boeing 747 aircraft for viable and infrequent
operations. The present runway, which was designed for Constellation
type aircraft, was now becoming uneconomic to maintain as a heavy
duty pavement. The Prime Minister said the project had been designed
by the Australian Government Department of Housing and Construction's
Port Moresby office, which would also supervise construction.
CANBERRA. A. C. T