Kendari Accelerates Infrastructure Development Ahead of International Forum
The Ministry of Public Works (PU) is arranging infrastructure in Kendari City, Southeast Sulawesi Province, as part of preparations to host the international forum United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) 2026, scheduled for 7-9 May 2026.
The arrangements are being carried out through river management, urban drainage organisation, and strengthening of the flood control system.
Throughout April 2026, the Ministry of PU through the Sulawesi IV Kendari River Basin Centre (BWS) is carrying out the normalisation of Sungai Korumba and Sungai Mandonga in Mandonga Subdistrict.
This activity is a follow-up to the directive from Minister of PU Dody Hanggodo to start river management from the estuary to ensure smooth water flow from upstream to downstream and minimise the risk of ponding.
“Road improvements will certainly be in vain if the drainage is clogged and the estuary experiences silting that triggers tidal flooding or ponding during rain. If the estuary is wide open and the water flows strongly, sediment will be flushed out to sea, thus maintaining the flow capacity,” said Dody, quoted on Tuesday (28/04/2026).
For Sungai Korumba, the work is being carried out along 650 metres with a width of 13 metres. Meanwhile, for Sungai Mandonga, normalisation is being carried out along 900 metres with a width of 12 metres.
In addition to short-term handling, the Ministry of PU is preparing the construction of main urban drainage in three priority corridors in Kendari City, namely the Sungai Korumba area along 2 kilometres, Sungai Bonggoeya along 4.5 kilometres, and the Polresta-Sungai Wanggu corridor along 1.7 kilometres.
The construction of this drainage system is designed through collaboration between BWS Sulawesi IV Kendari and the Kendari City Government.
In 2026, activities will focus on completing land acquisition and preparing designs, while construction is planned to begin the following year.
In the medium term, the Ministry of PU plans to build the Nanga-Nanga Retention Pond in Baruga Ward, Baruga Subdistrict, Kendari City, during the period 2027-2029.
This retention pond is projected to reduce flooding in Kendari City by up to 54.14 per cent or 141.67 cubic metres per second.
In addition to functioning as flood control, this area is also designed as a water conservation zone, increasing infiltration, maintaining water quality, and providing public open space for the community.
Through this phased infrastructure arrangement, the Ministry of PU hopes that Kendari City will be increasingly ready to host UCLG ASPAC 2026 while gaining long-term benefits in the form of a more organised, comfortable, and flood-resilient urban area.