The historic Kokoda track has been closed indefinitely as local landowners demand outstanding payments from the Papua New Guinea government.
Earlier in the month, Australians walking the 138km Kokoda track had treks cancelled while others were stalled for long periods as protests by landowners closed sections of the trail.
Mount Kodu landowners have now closed off the track and are petitioning the PNG prime minister, James Marape, to pay the outstanding commitment the government made to them of 40m PNG kina (A$14.8m).
In 2008, the landowners forwent a A$12bn Mount Kodu mine project at the PNG government’s request in order to preserve the Kokoda track.
They signed an memorandum of understanding with the PNG government in 2010 as compensation for foregoing the mine project, including K430m in loyalties to the Kodu and Kokoda track landowners, and another K152m to the Kokoda Track Authority for community livelihood development projects and programs.
The PNG government committed to paying K5m every year from 2010 until 2020, when the memorandum of understanding would be reviewed. However, the government only paid K10m and K5m in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
Kodu Resource Owners Association deputy chairman, Chillion Biloi, said the organisation felt “forgotten … despite the fact that we have forgone the mine with major infrastructure developments and revenues in the billions of kina”.
He said the track will remain closed until the PNG government responds to the demands in the petition – which was supported by all track corridor communities, the Hiri Koiari district and the Central Province government.
Charlie Lynn, the owner of tour company Adventure Kokoda, said the track was “closed without any notice at all”. He has had to cancel six trips over the last two weeks, and airlift 10 stranded trekkers out of the jungle, leaving the company A$50,000 out of pocket.
Lynn said those who had their tours cancelled will be disappointed, with many trekkers having taken time off work to physically prepare for the hike. But he was also concerned about the impact on local tour operators.
More than 3,000 trekkers walk the Kokoda track each year to pay tribute to Australian and PNG soldiers who died in the second world war.
In April 2024, the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and Marape walked the track.
According to Lynn, the situation is due to “gross mismanagement” since the Australian government took control of the track in 2009.
“If the track is not opened up today … tourism for the rest of the year is shot,” Lynn said.
The PNG prime minister’s chief of staff, Andy Hetra, said the government would respond to the petition this week.
A spokesperson for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the department wants to see an early resolution, but the reopening of the track is ultimately a matter for the PNG government.
The PNG Tourism Promotion Authority could not be reached for comment.
