11 June 2014
Operation Render Safe planning team completes its visit to Bougainville
An Australian Defence Force planning team for Operation Render Safe, led by Captain Jay Bannister from the Royal Australian Navy, visited Bougainville from 29 May to 7 June. Captain Bannister will be the Commander of Operation Render Safe when it takes place in Torokina in October 2014.
In Buka, Captain Bannister and senior members of his team, which also included a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, met with Autonomous Bougainville Government Vice President, Hon Patrick Nisira MHR, ABG A/g Chief Secretary, Chris Siriosi, and A/g Assistant Commissioner of Police, Superintendent Paul Kamuai, to discuss planning for the clearance of unexploded ordnance which remains in Torokina, where a large military base was located during World War Two.
In Torokina, Captain Bannister met with District and community leaders, including ABG Member for Torokina, Hon Steven Suako MHR, to discuss planning for the operation. Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts located and documented unexploded ordnance to inform detailed planning for the operation.
“I was pleased to meet with the Vice President and senior officials from the Autonomous Bougainville Government as well as from community leaders in Torokina”, Captain Bannister said. “We are pleased to be supporting the ABG’s initiative to reduce the impact of unexploded ordnance on communities in Torokina so that they are safer and people are able to access more of their land for gardening, cash crops and other purposes”, he said. “I am looking forward to leading the operation in Torokina towards the end of the year.”
“We found a large volume of different types of World War Two ordnance during our visit and now need to conduct detailed planning so that we are able to dispose of these dangerous items in a way that is safe for communities”, he said. “I appreciate the offer of support that we have received from the Bougainville Police Service and we are in discussions with them about how they can work with us to maintain safety protocols during the explosive ordnance disposal work”, he said.
Operation Render Safe is Australia’s enduring commitment to disposing of unexploded ordnance from WW2 in the South West Pacific. The operation was previously conducted in Solomon Islands in 2013 and Rabaul and the Kokoda Track in 2011. Other nations are invited to participate in each operation.
Operation Render Safe is taking place in Torokina as a result of the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s (ABG)’s request to Australia to assist with the removal of unexploded World War Two ordnance, small arms and ammunition remaining in the District. It is taking place with the endorsement of the Government of Papua New Guinea.
A two person ADF team led by Warrant Officer Clint Palmer is joining Ms Rebecca Worner, Australian Civilian Corps Community Engagement Specialist, to work with the ABG and Bougainville Police Service to spread awareness about the operation around Bougainville ahead of its commencement.