Baker Tree Services have started “tree trimming” in the Avarua Township as part of the Cook Islands Investment Corporation’s Avarua Town Plan – Te Tau Papa O Avarua. MELINA ETCHES/23092963/ 23100305/ 23100306/ 23100307/ 23100308
Tree trimming undertaken by Baker Tree Services started in the Avarua Township last week to “revitalise” the flora landscape, to eliminate any public safety hazards, and to help preserve healthy trees.
According to the Cook Islands Investment Corporation
(CIIC), the extensive year-long flora revitalising, tree planting and
maintenance programme is part of the Avarua Town Plan – Te Tau Papa O Avarua,
which will move through to the Panama Reserve area.
Baker Tree Services owner Nooroa Baker, a qualified
and experienced arborist and former Member of Parliament, said that they are
“trimming” the toa (ironwood) trees along the seafront which will help to
preserve them.
Baker Tree Services was engaged by CIIC to conduct a
detailed and comprehensive stocktake and health assessment of all 506 trees
within the Avarua Township through to the Panama Reserve.
Trees have been documented to specify each particular
species, size, and Māori (or common) names for each tree.
Baker Tree Services has also assessed what risks each
tree may present and has advised the actions necessary for both the safety of
the public and to best preserve the health of each tree.
“The preservation of native trees wherever possible is
a top priority for CIIC, except where public safety is an issue,” CIIC noted.
The planting of more than 50 new trees and several
hundred new plants are being nurtured in Harley Street, Nikao.
Te Tau Papa O Avarua project is funded by the Cook
Islands Infrastructure Trust Fund. The Phase 1 of the project which includes infrastructure
and landscaping activities, will be carried out in Rarotonga’s main central
business district (CBD) between Avarua Wharf and Rarotonga Airport.
The funding for this project, proposed at $7,600,000, is
under the New Zealand Infrastructure Trust Fund (ITF). This budget was approved
by the ITF steering committee in November 2022.
www.cookislandsnews.com
https://www.cookislandsnews.com/internal/national/environment/tree-trimming-starts-multimillion-dollar-te-tau-papa-o-avarua-project/
