Tuesday meeting looks at plan for our future
Participants from government, outer island administrations, donors and private sector meet on Tuesday to talk about strengthening disaster management and mitigation.
This is through what is called a Preventive Infrastructure Master Plan, a key component of an Asian Development Bank (ADB) technical assistance project.
They will gather in Rarotonga to review the draft master plan and set priorities for the various planned projects.
The ADB is funding the preparation of a comprehensive, environmentally sustainable preventive infrastructure master plan – a road map – for the Cook Islands.
The plan will cover the country’s needs over the next 20 years for: airports, ports and harbours, roads, water supply, electricity, telecommunications, sanitation and solid waste management.
The plan will also include ways to improve the government’s and private sector’s efficiency in providing these services.
The ADB and the government have engaged the services of the MPC Group International Pty Ltd., Australia, in association with Fraser Thomas Partners, New Zealand and The International Global Change Institute, New Zealand.
The consultant’s staff started services in the Cook Islands on 18 April.
The consultant’s team has visited nearly all the Outer Islands in both the Southern and Northern Groups to inspect existing facilities.
They have met the Island Councils and held discussions with stakeholders to learn of people’s problems and what communities see as their needs in the future.
The consultant is working closely with government departments, other donors such as NZAID, and the private sector.
The consultant’s team has now prepared an outline plan for improving infrastructure on each island.
The plan contains safeguards to ensure the islands’ fragile environments are not damaged.
The plan also includes recommendations for strengthening the government and outer island administrations so that they can plan, carry out and maintain the infrastructure efficiently.
Part of this improvement will result in greater involvement of the private sector.

– News release.

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