Kutubu is a 10 hour road journey over extremely rough roads from the nearest business centre. Sometimes fraught with tribal conflicts, the journey is difficult and causes much economic and personal disadvantage. 

Lake Kutubu at an altitude of 800m is 19km long and a wetland of international significance. It has been inhabited by the Foé people who followed the Kikori River up from the coast centuries ago. 

First contact with Australian patrol officers was in 1936 at which time it was noted 'The friendliness and lack of suspicion of these people was most marked', and that they (the Foé people) were less exuberant and demanding than the 'grasslanders' at higher altitudes; a Catalina-served Australian Government station was established the following year, and around 1950 this was handed over to missionaries, the Rule, Donaldson and Hicks families.

Whilst the Southern Highlands has economically had input from the oil and gas industry, the proceeds from royalties are relatively low as the gas wells are outside that area; also traditional leadership styles have failed to deliver benefits to where they are most needed. Many young people wait in vain for promised windfalls of cash, and do not focus on developing their own skills and local economy.