Machinery to be bought for outer islands

Monday 30: Plant and equipment are being bought by tender for infrastructure projects on some of the outer islands.

Ministry of Infrastructure & Planning’s Daryl Rairi says requests come in from each island administration every year and are then prioritised.

“These projects are funded from the outer islands budget appropriation where outer islands get approximately $2.4 million annually,” he says.

Rairi says funds from the same budget appropriation have been allocated to other infrastructure projects that are currently in progress.

A Komatsu loader and Ford tractor/trailer are needed for road and airport runway maintenance, while a grader tractor and vibrating roller are due to be sent to Mauke for the same work.

The tractor for Rakahanga is also needed for infrastructure projects and for the transfer of cargo from barge to the cargo storage shed.

Rairi says the two new generators for Mauke will be procured to improve the power supply, while the water tanks for Palmerston will be for domestic houses to improve water supply.

The fuel tanks for the outer islands will be used by Island Administrations for fuel transfer from the boat and for storage.

“These will replace some of the existing tanks that have deteriorated over the years.”

The new barge for Penrhyn will be constructed for the transport of cargo from Omoka to Te Tautua and vice versa.

He adds that when initiating projects the MOIP adheres to procedures in accordance with the Cook Islands government financial policies and procedures manual. - Moana Moeka’a