Overview
The Division of Lands and Physical Planning is an extension service of the Department of Lands and Physical Planning that operates under the West New Britain Provincial Government. It is established to administer various Acts of Parliaments such as the Lands Act 1974 as amended, Incorporated Land Group Act 2009 (Amended), Physical Planning Act, Land Titles Commission Act, Valuation Act and the Surveying Act.
The Division is responsible for managing, registering, and administering all state and freehold land, while overseeing land use planning with the primary purpose of managing land titles and ensuring equitable land allocation, including supporting customary land issues.
Core Functions
The key functions of the Division of Lands & Physical Planning. The functions include:
- Land Administration and Management
- Physical Planning
- Compliance and Regulation
- Land Valuation and Allocation
- Land Survey
- Customary Land Services
Key Responsibilities
The Division’s core responsibility is to administer both customary and alienated land, ensuring
that the acquisition of land is done in conformity with various Lands and Physical Planning Acts. These are summarized below.
- The Division under the Incorporated Land Group Act 2009 (Amended) is required to administer registration of Incorporated Land Groups (ILG). Customary landowners are required to incorporate their land groups, and as such, their first contact point in the district and province is the Division.
- Land acquisition involves the physical identification of its boundaries. As such, the Division is required to carry out surveying and drafting work in conformity with various acts that it administers. It is required to value the land and properties it contains.
- The Division is mandated through various Lands and Physical Planning Acts to ensure Physical Planning within the alienated land is done in conformity with State requirements.
Programs & Services
In line with its core responsibilities, the Division has five (5) main programs and services. It also has its extensive arm in the 3 Districts and 12 LLGs, being key programs under the districts and corresponding LLGs:
- Lands and Physical Planning Management
The management administers and oversees core functions within the Division and coordinates the running of the two boards in the province.
- Provincial Land Board- Reappointment of Provincial Land Board members and National Land Board sitting in West New Britain Province.
- Provincial Physical Planning Board – Conduct swearing in and induction of Board members, and Coordination of annual Board Meetings.
It is also responsible for the office’s general administration, ensuring effective implementation of the division’s core programs and functions.
- Physical Planning
This program involves organizing land use, spatial development, and environmental sustainability by designing, implementing, and enforcing zoning regulations, structure plans, and development guidelines.
- Land Surveying
Conduct land surveys that involve measuring, mapping, and defining legal property boundaries for construction, engineering, and development projects.
- Land Valuation
Conduct inspections and valuations on customary and alienated land.
- Alienated Land
Looks after alienated land matters, which involves:
- Conduct Physical Inspection on state leases/ Compliance and forfeiture of undeveloped state leases.
- Revitalize and rehabilitate old, rundown plantations
- Customary Land Services
Provide customary land services, which involve:
- Facilitate the Voluntary Customary Land Registration (VCLR) process
- Facilitate ILG process and registration
- District Land Coordination
This program is established across the three Provincial Districts with a focus on coordinating land matters and services at the district level. It is responsible for managing land use, securing access for operations, and acting as the primary liaison between a specific organization (government or private) and local landowners/stakeholders.
- Talasea District Land Coordination
- Nakanai District Land Coordination
- Kandrian District Land Coordination
- LLG Fisheries Extension Program
This program is established across the 12 Local Level Governments to provide extensive services for assistance in land matters at the LLG Level.
Structure & Leadership
The Division is headed by the Executive Manager, who oversees teams responsible for specific functional areas, including:
- Office Administration
- Land Survey
- Physical Planning
Strategic Focus
The Division of Lands & Physical Planning is committed to:
- Registration of customary land through mechanisms like Incorporated Land Groups (ILGs) and Voluntary Customary Land Registration (VCLR)
- Introduction of provincial land use policies
- Transition to digital transformation and modernization (e-land system)
- Promotion of sustainable land use
- Reclamation of alienated land for development
Contact Information
For enquiries related to this division, please contact:
Division: Lands & Physical Planning Division
Phone:
Email:
Location: Kimbe-Provincial Headquarters