The Honiara City Council through its Municipal Disaster Committee has announced Tuesday 18th January 2022 as the formal start date for the clean up of General Disaster Wastes from the November Honiara civil unrest.
The Disaster Waste Clean-up is part of the HCC’s overall response under the Honiara Civil Unrest Disaster Clean-Up Plan 2021, a plan jointly developed by the HCC, NDMO, Ministry of Infrastructure and Development, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health, Police Fire Rescue and other key disaster and waste management agencies.
The Honiara City Clerk who is the chairman of the HCC Municipal Disaster Committee stated that with the presentation of the final draft of the DW Clean up Plan 2021 to the Lord Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, HCC Councillors and the Disaster Waste Management Steering Committee on Thursday 13th January 2022, the committee has agreed to the implementation of the plan.
The DisasterWaste Clean-up plan has three phases comprising of six stage clean up concept.
Phase 1: Clean-up preparation that covers stages 1 and 2 of the concept.
Stage 1 – Preparation of resources and teams, and consultation with property owners
Stage 2 – Training, briefings and pre-positing of resources on the seven identified DW zones
Phase 2: Clean up of Disaster Wastes containing Hazardous Materials and General Wastes. This is stages 3, 4 and 5 of the clean-up concept.
Stage 3 – Hazardous and chemical wastes collection, removal and disposal. As per the technical assessment conducted in December 2021, the only hazardous wastes that poses greater risk to public health is asbestos containing materials and buildings. This stage has been completed and it is now safe for the general DW clean up (stage 4) to commence.
Stage 4 – General Disaster Waste Clean up. This is the collection, removal and disposal of all remaining wastes that are not regarded as containing hazardous or chemicals.
Stage 5 – Demolition of remaining structures and unsafe infrastructures. This include demolition of buildings that are deemed as not fit to rehabilitate or re-build, removal of debris and clearing of sites.
Phase 3: Post clean up. This covers stage 6 of the clean up concept that will include a Lessons Learnt Workshop that would also help provide valuable lessons and recommendations to the development of a national Disaster Waste Management Plan.
In implementing the Honiara Civil Unrest Disaster Waste Clean-up Plan, the City Clerk has formally announced that the Phase 2, stages 4 and 5 of the clean concept
will commence on Tuesday 18ht January 2022. A pre-clean up meeting and briefing will be on Monday 10am at the Honiara City Council. It is important that all property and business owners must attend to be made aware on the clean-up plan and the responsibilities of all involve.
The recent Honiara civil unrest has resulted in more than 122 businesses destroyed and it is in the best interest of the HCC and SIG that the affected property and business owners are supported and in doing so the HCC in collaboration with the NDMO, MID and other SIG national authorities are coordinating and leading the Disaster Waste Clean up together with the property and business owners.
-NDC Press