“When the road is good, life is good.” 

Christmas has come early for those living along Malaita’s South Road, with the 42km from Auki to Mao’a Bridge reopening after years of closure.

The comments of South Road tyre repair store owner, Jude Sukulu, echoes the thoughts of everyone living along Malaita’s restored South Road.

The only land link connecting four constituencies including Central Kwara’ae, Aoke Langa Langa, West Kwaio and West Are’Are, the road has been impassable to all but 4WD vehicles, devastating businesses, farmers and increasing the cost of goods coming into the community.

“The reopening of the road brings relief to our communities,” said Ward Support Officer Julia Agofi. 

“For the last two years, the only way to access Auki has been by boat. But overloading was common making travel risky – and it cost SBD100 to travel between villages and Auki, more than double the cost of travelling by road,” said Agofi.

The SBD11 million Australian-funded Emergency Works partnership with the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Malaita Provincial Government has been completed by Trades Transformation Company Ltd (TTC), a local Malaita-based company. 

TTC completed the road works, employing 34 people and using community-supplied gravel – creating an additional economic boost for communities along the road.

Australian High Commissioner, Rod Hilton, said the opening of the South Road was an absolute game changer for those living along it. 

“The road has reopened just in time for Christmas. It’s great to see the immediate impact for farmers bringing produce to market, women accessing health services and the reduced cost of living for everyone.”

“We wish everyone travelling home this Christmas a safe journey, and a wonderful time with family,” High Commissioner Hilton said.

Truck owner and Chairman of Bina Village Community, Silas Hunu, said the poor state of the road had broken the springs on his trucks, before closing the road entirely.

“When the road was bad, we stopped all transport services. Now we’re averaging three trips per day and businesses are encouraged to grow.”

SSEC Pastor Judah Frank Sau says the economic impact of the reopening has been huge. 

“Before the reopening, community cash flow was minimal, and store prices increased by 30-50 percent. With the road reopening, cash flow has returned and prices have normalised.”

All along the road, the message from shop owners, home builders and pineapple farmers is that business is thriving once more.

Like everyone, Maoro village store owner Drucllar Rara had to increase her prices due to the double freight cost of boat transport plus carting goods from the coast to her community.

“The cost of everything from biscuits to noodles went up. People were frustrated, and so was I, but they understood. It was tough for everyone to make ends meet,” Rara explained from the small store she and her husband manage.

“Now that the road is fixed, costs have normalised, our profits have increased, and business is thriving again.”

For Provincial Police Commander Tex Tafoa, the road repairs have changed everything. 

Leading into Christmas, he’s getting his officers back into community for pre-Christmas community awareness.

“People feel more secure. They feel safer knowing the police can reach them quickly and it makes our community engagement work easier.”

The South Road improvements will continue, with six months of routine maintenance commencing from January 2025.