The Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA) successfully completed an official mission to Vanikoro Island, Temotu Province to undertake community consultations and preliminary site surveying for a proposed new Greenfield Airport.
An Official Team, led by the Ministry of Communication and Aviation (MCA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey (MLHS), the Ministry of Forestry and the Ministry of Agriculture, spent about three weeks from the 9th to the 30th of October, 2025 in Temotu Province particularly on Vanikoro Island to conduct Consultations and Site Surveying on a land area termed as the Desert land which is the proposed location for the development of a new Greenfield Airport.
On arrival in Temotu Province the team paid a courtesy call to the Provincial Office and were welcomed by some senior staff and Honourable members of the Provincial Assembly. Speaking during the visit, the Team’s leader, Mr Luke Mua, MCA’s Deputy Secretary stated that “the proposed greenfield airport at Vanikoro represents a transformative opportunity for Temotu Province. It will open new pathways for economic growth, enhance access to air transport services and strengthen the integration of remote communities into the national economy.
Mr Mua, further added that “one of the fundamental development priorities of the Ministry of Communication and Aviation is to connect and bridge our Islands together and the proposed Vanikoro Greenfield airport is a strategic investment that will contribute in bringing about this connectivity and accessibility. Such Airport infrastructure will enable fast, efficient and safe travel for both people and goods and offer vital support for education and medical services and even disaster relief. It will support tourism, fostering economic growth while also providing access to air transport services for remote communities, in particular those of Temotu Vatud Constituency.”
Provincial Member for Anuta Ward, Honourable John Fenua on behalf of the Temotu Provincial Government expressed appreciation for this Government’s initiative: “We welcome this project as it represents a significant step forward for Temotu Province.” Mr Fenua said, “That the initiative of developing an airport on Vanikoro Island was long known about but never being delivered. Now that the current National Government through the Ministry of Communication and Aviation has shown the effort and seriousness of implementing this Airport infrastructure indicates that our people’s voices are heard and we look forward to continued collaboration as the project progresses.”
During community consultations, inclusive dialogues were held with community Chiefs, elders, landowners, women, youths and children to discuss the potential socio-economic benefits of the airport and to address community concerns. Paiu, Emua, Muravai, Buma, Lavaka and Lale were the communities on Vanikoro Island visited by the team to hold consultations.
With Site Surveying, the Team’s technical officers carried out initial assessments and surveying of the proposed site, focusing on land suitability, environmental considerations, and infrastructure requirements such as carrying out the Dynamic Cone Penetration (DCP) soil testing and extracting soil samples for lab testing from different locations within the proposed site. The test provides an in-situ measurement of soil strength, density, and bearing capacity. Data collected from this field method can be used to evaluate subgrade conditions for the construction of the proposed new Greenfield Airport.
The proposed new Greenfield airport is expected to improve connectivity, stimulate tourism and provide a more reliable, safer and efficient air transport services. It will benefit the people of Vanikoro Island and the surrounding Islands of Temotu Vatud Constituency given the challenges the people usually faced of travelling very long sea distances by OBM which is risky at times due to unpredictable harsh weather conditions and also high fuel costs.
The Ministry of Communication and Aviation remains committed to ensuring that the proposed new Greenfield airport is developed in a way that is sustainable, inclusive and beneficial to local communities.
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[MCA]
