This paper consists of a review of existing literature relating to Incorporated Land Groups in Papua New Guinea (PNG), followed by a case study of two urban incorporated land groups (ILGs) in the city of Lae. The paper is an attempt at assessing the sustainability of ILGs in the country. The challenges facing the ILGs have heightened public fears that the land groups may not be sustainable. Based on the argument in previous studies that the ILGs are not sustainable, the paper used primary data from two separate questionnaire surveys of randomly selected ILG landowners (including legal settlers) and ILG stakeholders to investigate the problem. The combined sample size of 129 respondents (32.7%) was representative of the total ILG population, while a total of 25 indicators were used to test the respondents' perceptions regarding ILG sustainability. Findings reveal that only one of the indicators received the positive support of the stakeholders, while no indicator was supported by the landowners. This suggests that the ILGs in PNG are not sustainable legal entities. This dilemma is a consequence of the challenges facing the ILGs, including the issues of corruption in the Lands Department, illiteracy among landowners, poor publicity given to ILGs' functions, and the dysfunctional ILG legal framework.
Following severe criticisms against perceived inefficiency and unfairness of land taxation system in Papua New Guinea, this paper appraises four mechanisms used for land tax assessment and tax collection in the country. The mechanisms investigated as part of a larger study are validity of previous valuation roll, determination of unimproved land value, professional acceptability of the valuation methods used, and whether planning approval had been secured for the improvements on land. The study is based on a questionnaire survey of 150 respondents, including state land leaseholders and officials of the Lands Department at Lae Municipality and the City’s Internal Revenue Commission. The hypothesis tested yields a Chi-Square Test value of 8.872 and a Probability Value (P Value) of 0.75 (75%), which is statistically significant at 0.01 level. These findings indicate that the Lae City Municipality has 75% chances of becoming sustainable in the foreseeable future, particularly if the recommendations made are thoughtfully implemented.
10This paper presents an experimental scenario aimed at bridging the gap between the cities we have 11 and the cities we need, not only in the 21 st century but also beyond, using the integrated tools of 12 development control and holistic land development model to achieve a planner-led vision of city 13 sustainability. Due to scathing criticisms against the development control system, the paper 14 contends that planners as development approving officers and public interest specialists are better
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