KOTA KINABALU: Only 32 per cent of the total 314 hectares of land under the Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) master plan will be parcels sold for development, while the remaining 68 per cent consists of accessible, open and recreational spaces, including a proposed golf course.
Datuk Victor S Paul, executive director of Tanjung Aru Eco Development Sdn Bhd (TAEDSB), the master developer of this project, said there would only be 36 lots for sale in TAED whereby 25 per cent of the purchased lots space was required to be allocated for green space.
Paul said the TAEDSB board of directors took steps to ensure that the rehabilitated park and beach would be protected by passing it in the State Assembly so that no one in the future could touch it, even if a new Chief Minister came along.
He said this in a TAED briefing session for representatives from Sabah Housing and Property Developers Association (Shareda), Sabah Environmental Protection Association (Sepa), Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) and WWF Malaysia here yesterday.
Paul explained that parts of the development had to be sold because the proposed rejuvenation of Tanjung Aru Beach and Prince Philip Park would cost around RM1.5 billion while yearly maintenance cost was estimated at RM45 million.
He said the present Tanjung Aru Beach was an eyesore, underdeveloped and polluted with limited social, environmental and economic value.
“The quality of the beach has been deteriorating due to the increased fine content and pollutants from several drain-discharging sources and the Petagas River.
“At night, few people will venture to the beach or park as it is claimed that the area is poorly lit and unsafe,” he added.
Furthermore, seawater samples taken from several points along the First, Second and Third Beaches are found to contain between 500 and 1,485 of colony-forming unit (CFU) per 100 milliliters, which indicates high risk of illness transmission fecal count by the World Health Organization (WHO).
“It is the duty of the government to take some sort of action to stop all these, and that is what the government is trying to do,” he said.
The TAED master plan proposes to widen the beach to at least 50 metres at low tide (about five times wider) from nine metres now; and at least 100 metres at high tide (about four times wider) from 25 metres now.
To help protect the beach from both erosion as well as silt and pollution from the Petagas River, two new headland/breakwaters will be built as coastal landforms.
In addition, the Prince Philip Park will also be enlarged to twice its original size from 11.43 acres now to 27 acres.
Under the master plan, there will be a fishermen’s wharf, a marina, water channel and an international golf course.
The fishermen’s wharf is where the eateries, hotels and car parks will be as well as three bridges linking the wharf and the rainforests and beach.
In order to achieve low carbon emission, Paul said vehicles would not be allowed to enter the park. Instead, there will be electric buses, water taxi and proposed rapid transit.
The elderly and physically challenged individuals are also catered for with buggy services.
Over the long term, it is said that TAED will create new demand for local products from farmers, fishermen and craftsmen as well as open up business and employment opportunities for the people and youths of Sabah.
Paul believes that the TAED project would draw in over RM10 billion in foreign investments to the state, and assured that not a sen would go to the board members or him.
“None of us (board members) can take part in any of the tenders, nor our family members, whether for construction or purchase,” he said.
Present at the briefing were Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah, Shareda president Francis Goh, Sabah Parks Board of Trustees chairman Datuk Seri Tengku Dr Zainal Adlin bin Tengku Mahamood and City Hall director general Datuk Yeo Boon Hai.