Papua New Guinea - Geodetic Monitoring Site
Site ID
TARO
Station Location
Taro
Station Number
TARO 2000
Station Address
Taro Village
Vokeo Island
Schouten Island Group
East Sepik Province
WGS-84 Station Coordinates
Latitude
S 3°14'18".9
Longitude
E 144°04'34".8
Ellipsoidal Ht
82m
SITE OWNERSHIP
Owner / Authority
Taro Community School
Catholic Mission
Site Contact/s
Joe Kasuk, Head master, Taro Community School
Toby Samek, El Presidente (has generator for hire K200 per day!)
Olaf Salum, Council Baijor Village
Phone
Fax
Address
Joe Kasuk
Vokeo Community School
PO Box 107
Wewak
Email
STATION DESCRIPTION
Station marker
30cm galvanised bolt in concrete with hemispherical head
Inscription
TARO 2000
Reference marks
1 x 150mm galvanized bolt in concrete
1 concrete nail, on concrete slab
Witness marks
Memorial Cross, corners of buildings
Azimuth marks
none
Station constructed by/date
Richard Stanaway, RSES, ANU, 14th September 2000
special instructions
Bring food and trade goods, as only one trade store at Gol, on N side of Island
In dry periods, water will need to be brought from Wewak
A spring 150m away on the
beach dries up in droughts
Coconuts and fish reasonably plentiful
Contact Head master on arrival
Site soil / Geology
SITE ACCESS
Boats
PMV boats are fairly frequent to Taro (every 2 days) K40 return, banana boats take 2hrs to Wewak
Boats depart from beach opposite Wewak post office
Margaret Hayward at Airport Lodge, knows local charter operators who charge reasonable rates
K150 to Vokeo one-way charter
The site is 5 minutes walk through Taro village from the mooring to the NW of the village.
Taro is between Morok and Faiala villages
The mark is next to the community school, on a small green with the Catholic church on
the other side
SITE FACILITIES
Power
Solar panels are really essential
A village councillor has a generator, but there may be problems using it
Shelter
The receiver can be housed in the classroom of the school (during holidays),
otherwise a tent can be used.
Accommodation
Village accommodation is available (headmasters residence)
Aid Post at Baijor
Security
see below
Labour
Local islanders can assist, rice, kerosene and trade goods are greatly
appreciated in exchange.
Communications
radio or satellite phone useful
Adverse conditions
snakes (wear gaiters and take precautions + anti-venom
if available)
SITE DIAGRAMS
Access map
Schouten Islands Map
Taro 1:100,000
Site diagram ans photos
TARO station mark
TARO setup 2000
TARO RM
TARO sketch 2000
Elevation mask
Some trees and structures nearby, 20 degree mask
OCCUPATION SUMMARIES
2000 Campaign
Party leader
Suvenia Hasiata, Surveying, UNITECH
Contact details
473 4967 UNITECH
Assistant/s
none
Labour / security
Taro villagers;
Jack Malau
Damien Conda
Joe Kasuk, All night security
Wanak Kasuk, Labour
Toby Samek, Generator
Last updated: 26th November 2003
Richard Stanaway
Research School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University