THE Federal Government will spend $1.8 million improving safety on the Kokoda Track less than a month after a plane crash in the area killed 13 people, including nine Australians.

Heritage Minister Peter Garrett said the funding would be spent on a range of safety initiatives including:

-Safety audits at the Kokoda, Manari, Kagi, Melei, Efogi and Naduri airstrips.

-Installing safety equipment, including windsocks, cones, markers and maintenance equipment, at the six airstrips.

-Building sheds and doing regular maintenance work.

Thirteen people died when an Airlines PNG flight from Port Moresby to Kokoda crashed into the Owen Stanley Range on August 11. The money would also be used to build footbridges at key points on the track.

Original article can be found here: http://www.theage.com.au/national/safety-upgrade-for-kokoda-track-20090905-fc55.html