TAED fits sustainable development agenda of government, objectors told
Published on: Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: City Hall (DBKK) Director-General Datuk Joannes Solidau told the public hearing on the Tanjung Aru Eco-Development project at the Kota Kinabalu Community Centre that it was the aspiration of the government to create a sustainable development beneficial to Sabah.He said past public consultation process indicated that the majority of the public favour having free access to the park and beach and that this was met.However, activists and the opposition remain opposed to the plan with Parti Warisan saying it would stop the project if it forms the next State Government.
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Its Likas Assemblyman Junz Wong, who is a Parti Warisan Vice President said it may seek a judicial review if the project approval process involving City Hall, EPD and Central Board lacks transparency.He suggested that the project be shifted elsewhere in Sabah where beaches were in need of development.Junz also said Sabah does not need another golf course and said the low turnout for the hearing could be due to it not being held on a weekend.Environment activist S.M. Muthu called on NGO members to bring their "sampans" or small boats to sail up the water channel or canal planned for TAED super yachts.
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He suggested that the TAED development be confined to the land tracts up to Jalan Selangor (access road to second and third beaches) and leave the beach and foreshore lands undisturbed for public enjoyment.Acting Director of City Hall (DBKK)'s Planning Department, Stanley Chong, responded to the written and oral questions by objectors.
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He said the entire beach length would be zoned as open space and, hence, any privatisation of the foreshore reserve was not plausible. "The edge of the canal and sections of the marina are zoned as open spaces; hence these areas are accessible to the public," he said.He also assured that entrance to public facilities and beach would be free, and there would be no privatisation of the Tanjung Aru foreshore beach. Some objectors insisted that this be recorded in the minutes of the hearing, and that no fee would be collected for using the toilets and electrical bus rides, etc.An objector, Joshua Kong, was concerned that the proposed golf course would not utilise pesticides or fertilisers that will cause runoff into water bodies within the course.To suggestions to relocate the project, the objectors were told that the Tanjung Aru locality is currently underdeveloped and in need of an upgrade."Additionally, TAED provides a holistic solution to address all the existing pollution issues at Tanjung Aru."The close proximity of Tanjung Aru to the city and KKIA entails that the development would be easily assessable to all, be it locals or visitors and will bring high yield tourism, thereby generating income to the state," said Stanley."TAED fulfils the criteria of being a low density township," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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