Michelle McGeorge

The Park's general manager, Michelle McGeorge, recalls joining the park seven years ago.

The area had no proper communication platform - no telephone line and internet. There were only 5 computers and 2 email addresses.

Since commencing this partnership, Digicel has helped in projects such as lining fibre optic cabling, CUG (closed user group) for staff, telephone line and internet.

Today, Digicel once more announced its continued gold sponsorship support of the park.

The Nature Park was the vision of Governor Powes Parkop, who along with the NCDC Board, made the decision back in 2010 that the then National Capital Botanical Gardens was no longer living up to the expectations and needs of the city and that the site had the potential to be so much more, not only for residents but also as a tourism attraction to the region.

Following the introduction of a new management team with many years of international experience operating similar attractions overseas, NCDC’s City Manager officially launched Port Moresby Nature Park on 16 June, 2012.  

The Park hopes to showcase up to 30 different individual animals from snakes, both venomous and non-venomous, to turtles and frogs.

This will be the only place where people will be able to see venomous snakes on public display.

The Park hopes to use that space as well to educate people on the importance of snakes.

POMNP general manager Michelle McGeorge said they also want to teach people how to protect themselves so that they are not in harm’s way.

Because over the years, with urbanisation, many have lost this important connection.

The Port Moresby Nature Park is also recognising the World Environment Day, observed by the United Nations.

The theme for the year is Connecting People in Nature and PNP general manager Michelle McGeroge agrees with it.

“We identify that most people in the world now are living in urban cities and lack that connection with the natural environment. And because they don’t have that connection, they are starting to forget how important the environment is,” she said.

With the theme ‘Connecting People through Nature’, the event aims to promote nature conservation.

This will be Nature Park’s fifth year in partnership with BSP to host World Environment Day.

POMNP general manager Michelle McGeorge said this year will be even bigger and better with more than 22 organisations participating.

Organisations including Brian Bell will showcase solar and clean energy, waste products and healthy chemicals, KK Kingston, Eda Ranu, PNG Power and other big organisations will attend.

This will enable the park to provide more effective on-site catering to large functions and for visiting tour groups.

The facility is set to meet the growing demand of catering in the park and is located near the Park’s existing and popular Nature’s Café.

POMNP general manager Michelle McGeorge revealed during the launch today that the Park had half a million visitors in the last five years and 19,000 students visited annually.

This is the second consecutive year ExxonMobil PNG (EMPNG) has partnered with the Park to highlight World Wildlife Day.

Port Moresby Nature Park’s general manager, Michelle McGeorge, said: “ExxonMobil PNG is a major partner of the Nature Park, spanning over the last four years which has enabled us to achieve a great number of projects and we are really excited about how big this year’s World Wildlife Day is going to be, with over 18 conservation and Government organisations already confirmed.”

They helped transport and deliver to the Port Moresby Nature Park a number of in-kind items, including four 40ft containers, two 20ft freezer units, and six structures suitable for housing animals. 

Red Sea Housing’s general manager, Kenneth Clinton, said: “Red Sea Housing is pleased to support the Nature Park and when we heard that they had received these donated items but were unable to transport them to the Nature Park, we were only too happy to help.”

Nature Park general manager Michelle McGeorge said they aim to showcase the park as the window to Papua New Guinea.

McGeorge stated that the park has a lot to offer in terms of PNG’s native flora and fauna and they plan to showcase these to the world through the business visitors.

Port Moresby has a high number of business travellers every year. They would like to encourage the business houses to bring their visitors who come for business conferences and meetings to make appointments to visit the park.

Tourism Minister Tobias Kulang did the ground breaking ceremony today for construction to commence.

The event was witnessed by chief executive officer of Tourism Promotion Authority Jerry Agus, few visitors at the park and PNP staff.

The picnic village will feature traditional houses from the various provinces that are significant including the famous Trobriand yam house, round house from the Highlands, tree house of Koiari and haus Tambaran from the Sepik region.