Pilot project sought to establish model for lagoon recovery
A collective effort is required-Takitumu Mayor Teariki Matenga
A Takitumu community based initiative aimed at cleaning up the lagoon between Titikaveka and Avana got off to a good start with a meeting of about 30 stakeholders and interested parties at the Ministry of Marine Resources Training Centre in Avatiu at 12 noon on Friday.
The Mayor for the Vaka of Takitumu, Teariki Matenga chaired the meeting which attracted representatives from government agencies, the tourism sector, the commercial sector, NGOs and concerned citizens. Ali MacQuarie who has been part of the task force monitoring pollution levels in Titikaveka lagoon was also in attendance.
Matenga said the purpose of the meeting was to confirm support for a pilot programme to establish a community based and driven model for cleaning up the lagoon. Due to resource and funding constraints, the pilot would involve a restricted area running from Titikaveka to Avana. This was the area that had previously been affected and caused an irritant syndrome to arise. Limited area size would also make monitoring easier. If the model produced the desired results it could be applied to the rest of Rarotonga, the outer islands and even other Pacific nations.
Matenga said it was now not possible to eat local fish. His primary intention was to turn the time back to what it was. He said a collective effort was required on the part of the community.
Matenga proposed the establishment of two committees. A steering committee that had oversight and overall responsibility of the project as well as monitoring progress and setting the policy direction and reporting to government. The steering committee would include representatives from local and central government (including Health, Agriculture, Marine, Environment and Works), Tourism and commerce and NGOs.
Working to the steering committee would be a larger working committee made up of representatives from the Vaka, interested parties, groups with technical expertise, NGOs and concerned citizens. From this group would be drawn various sub- groups to work and report back on specific issues.
Representatives from various government agencies expressed their support for the pilot. HOMs Nga Nataio (Agriculture) and Ata Herman (Works) expressed support as did those from MFEM, Marine and Environment.
A representative, Geoff, from the New Zealand Marine Resources Institutional Strengthening Programme which is funded by NZAid, offered support as he said they have specialists in lagoon ecosystems.
Noeline Brown representing the Avana- Muri Action group and the traditional landowners also expressed support.
Rob Coote, Chairman of the Cook Islands Waste Water Septic Disposal Corporation referred to problems associated with septic tanks and spoke of the need to design and build a new type of septic tank. He also mentioned the draft Public health Sewerage Regulations.
The MFEM representative spoke of the possibility of the group applying for EU funding as the EU were considering making funds available for either a renewable energy or lagoon protection project.
By show of hands those present gave their consent and approval for the pilot project.
Matenga said the next steps would be to establish the two committees, determine the priorities, assess funding needs then apply for funding.
Matenga said he would call another meeting in the near future.

- Charles Pitt

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