Kota Kinabalu: The proposed billion-ringgit Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) project is on track for commencement in the first quarter of 2017, once approved, now that one of the main questions raised during the initial stages – the fate of the SK Tanjung Aru 1 and 2 – has been solved.Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai (pic) said the schools would be relocated to Kampung Tanjung Aru Baru, an area currently occupied by mainly squatters, including undocumented foreigners, and the scene of numerous fires and hygiene issues.He said qualified residents there would be given apartments at an ongoing Hardcore Poor People Housing Project (PPRT) development in Inanam, which is now 95 per cent complete.
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He reiterated that Tanjung Aru Beach and Prince Philip Park would remain public spaces for all future generations to enjoy. Around 30 per cent of the 348-hectare development is expected to be public areas as opposed to half of the land size as reported earlier as developers plan to reclaim 226 hectares to increase the size of the beach from 17 hectares at present, where the earth will be sourced from the sea some 55 km from the State's coast.
The development would be carried out in four phases with the developer expecting to complete the project over two-and-a-half years, without causing serious impact to the environment. The billion-ringgit project is divided into eight zones namely Tanjung beach, Prince Phillip Park, Prince Philip Wharf, Aru Gateway, Aru Village, Aru Oceanfront, Aru Marina and Golf Retreat, as well as the construction of a 42 metre canal spun along the project with around five to six kilometres in length.
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The development includes the construction of several hotels of about 1,800 rooms, 22 residential developments with more than 4,000 new dwellings, a water theme park, dedicated cycling lanes and electric bus lines.The project masterplan has been submitted to City Hall by developer Tanjung Aru Eco Development Sdn Bhd and would undergo the due processes of the Town and Country Planning Ordinance (Sabah Cap. 141) of Section 6 to 10.
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Yeo said this involved public hearing and inspection of the said project, adding that the TAED draft plan would, initially, be approved by the Head of State by March next year. The draft plan is ready for public inspection at City Hall's first floor Meeting Room 2 for three months from the date of publication of the public consultation notification in the Government Gazette, from Nov. 10, 2016 to Feb. 10, 2017. "These reports are available for the general public to view, and the public may offer their comments and feedback via the objection or comment forms," said Yeo, adding that forms are available at the City Hall headquarters' registration desk during operation hours from 9am to 4.30pm from Monday to Friday, except public holidays. Yeo said the feedback would be collected and analysed before being presented for further discussion in the Section 7(4) public hearing, which Yeo would chair later. Upon completion of the two processes, the draft plan would then be compiled together with the objections, amendments of claims to compensation (if any), and submitted to the Central Board.
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"If adopted by the Central Board the draft plan shall be submitted to the Head of State who has the authority to certify the TAED Local Plan as an approved scheme."If approved, the plan will be the first approved local plan in the city," he said.