In the Cook Islands, new land is beginning to form north of Rarotonga's Punanga Nui markets, and material dredged from the Avatiu harbour is expected arrive soon at the site to create Rarotonga's newest real estate.
Preparation work has now begun on the 1.4 million US dollars land extension.
The dredged material will form a land platform over a two-hectare area, effectively extending the market area north and eastward.
It will also create more of a buffer zone between the ocean and major development inland when cyclones hit.
A 30-day public consultation period closed on March 23 and, with no submissions received on the project, it was approved to begin on March 26.
