Led by Principal Coastal Engineer Matt Blacka, opens in a new window, WRL undertook a project spanning 8 months in Avarua, the main town of Rarotonga, Cook Islands. The project was undertaken for the Climate Change Cook Islands division within the Office of the Prime Minister, and was funded under the Pacific Adaptation Strategy Assistance Program (PASAP), opens in a new window by the Australian Government.

Avarua lies on the cyclone prone north coast of Rarotonga, and is the administrative, economic and tourism hub of the Cook Islands. Within the study area are most government offices, the international airport, the main fuel stores, and the Avatiu harbour which processes all incoming freight to Rarotonga and the other Cook Islands. Previous cyclones impacting the study area, including the unprecedented five cyclones early in 2005, have caused significant damage to buildings and threatened in...

Coastal adaptation needs for extreme events and climate change, Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
UNSW Water Research Laboratory
Coastal adaptation needs for extreme events and climate change, Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
UNSW Water Research Laboratory
School
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Client
Climate Change Cook Islands, Office of the Prime Minister
Year
2012-2013
Please contact:

Matt Blacka | Adjunct Senior Lecturer | m.blacka@wrl.unsw.edu.au

One of the outcomes of the project was a range of brochures, and a video made by the Pacific Adaptation Strategy Assistance Program; targeted at Pacific-wide decision makers, development agencies, and those interested to find out more about adapting to climate change.