National Environment Service staffers appear to be taking their time in delivering an assessment on a temporary causeway at the redevelopment of upmarket Lagoon Private Island Resort on Aitutaki.

National Environment Service director, Halatoa Fua said the “project is currently being assessed, which will go through environment compliance process”.

It’s been more than two months since the causeway appeared.

At the time, Fua confirmed it had been approved by the Aitutaki Environment Authority in 2020/21, however moved to 2023 due to the Covid 19 disruption.

Following Cook Islands News enquires in early December 2023, he confirmed a team from NES would be travelling to Aitutaki the following week, to discuss the state of the temporary causeway and to prepare for an assessment of the environmental impact of the surrounding area.

As per the conditions of the temporary causeway, a full Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) process would be required to be delivered in Aitutaki if there’s an application for a permanent causeway, it was confirmed.

At the time, Rarotongan Beach Resort and Lagoonarium managing director Tata Crocombe confirmed it was a temporary causeway to allow for concrete trucks to be able to access the island for the ongoing construction programme, and covered by an NES consent.

“There was a bridge in the same location as the current waiting hut built during the time of government ownership of the resort that was swept away in a hurricane some years ago and the government decided not to rebuild it, presumably because they had sold the resort to the previous French owners who sold it to me,” Crocombe earlier said.

The resort hosted a VIP lunch event late last year for the Pacific Islands Forum in the new building which sits on the shores of Aitutaki Lagoon.

The redevelopment has been years in the making, as guests were transported across O’otu (Full Moon) Channel aboard the resort’s ferry to the complex perched on the edge of Motu Akitua, where they were greeted by a tiled entry to the redeveloped lobby and reception.

The new complex features a new infinity pool which guests dine alongside. Also housed within the new complex is the resort’s spa, SpaPolynesia Aitutaki, activities hut, gym and luggage room.

To add to the new developments, the resort launched new beachfront private infinity pool villas which overlook the waters of the Full Moon Channel and Aitutaki Lagoon. 

Meanwhile NES has been on the lookout to recruit a replacement senior environment officer for Aitutaki after a staffer retired in December 2023.

“We should finalise the new recruit this month,” Fua said.