The Ministry of Infrastructure Development’s (MID) is urging property owners and communities in Honiara and the provinces to stop building on designated road reserves.
These encroachments—such as betel nut stalls, fences, and house extensions—are obstructing roadworks and posing serious challenges to road safety and infrastructure development.
Road reserves are essential public zones set aside for future infrastructure upgrades, including road widening, bus stops, and the installation or maintenance of utility services such as electricity, water, sewage, and communication lines.
These reserves play a vital role in improving connectivity and transportation efficiency across our urban and rural communities.
However, the Ministry has observed increasing instances of unauthorized encroachments on these road reserves.
Such encroachments hinder the ability of road construction teams to carry out critical maintenance and expansion work, delaying progress and compromising safety.
In response, MID, in collaboration with the Lands Division and the Honiara City Council, is taking coordinated action to resolve these issues while ensuring property owners’ legal rights are respected.
“We are working closely with our stakeholders to address this issue in a fair and lawful manner,” MID stated. “At the same time, we urge all property owners to respect the purpose of road reserves and refrain from building or placing any structures within them. These areas are vital for public infrastructure development, and their protection is a shared responsibility.”
The Ministry also references the Honiara Local Planning Scheme 2015, which outlines development guidelines within the city, including provisions for road reserves, particularly along secondary roads that connect to local communities and areas within Guadalcanal Province’s jurisdiction. The Road Transport Act further provides regulations governing road zoning and reserves.
In Honiara, the legally mandated road reserve for primary roads is 30 metres in width.
Additionally, work is underway to develop a Roads and Bridges Policy, which will clearly define standards for secondary roads such as feeder roads and provincially gazetted roads.
A stand-alone drainage bill is also being drafted to support these efforts, and it is expected to complement the forthcoming National Building Code Bill, due to be tabled in Parliament this year.
As urbanization accelerates in Honiara, so too do the challenges of managing limited space, infrastructure demands, and individual property rights. The Ministry urges residents to be mindful of the need to strike a balance between personal development and the broader public good.
MID calls on all residents to support construction teams and infrastructure development efforts by respecting road reserve boundaries and avoiding activities that may obstruct public works. Together, we can ensure safer, more efficient roads and a better future for all road users.
Source: Press Release, Ministry of Infrastructure and Development