Councillor Bruce Chai (second right) showing Lai (third right), councillors Peter Chia (left), Julaihi Mohamad (second left) and others the conceptual design of the Kampung Pangkalan Lutong waterfront on his phone.
MIRI: Miri City Council (MCC) proposes to set aside RM500,000 to beautify and transform the river bank at Kampung Pengkalan Lutong here.
Mayor Lawrence Lai said the project would be financed through the RM10 million government grant announced by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem during the Miri City Day celebration in May this year.
“Like what I’ve said before, the government grant granted to MCC would be used to improve the tourism infrastructure and enhance safety in this Resort City. Thus, the council proposed to use part of the grant to construct the waterfront project for Kampung Pengkalan Lutong,” he told the media during a visit to Kampung Pengkalan Lutong’s riverbank yesterday.
He said the project would be in line with the council’s vision to make Miri a green city by building more recreational parks and eco-friendly facilities.
In addition, he hoped the project would encourage more water sport activities such as regatta and raft race along the river. He said he was informed by the villagers that Kampung Pengkalan Lutong used to be the finishing point for a regatta in the 1970s and even in the 1980s.
On the waterfront project, he said it would be implemented in stages and comprise a retaining wall, walkway and landscaping.
“The council will conduct a ground study and the project will be implemented soon after getting approval from the top authority.” Accompanying him for the site inspection were councillors, engineers and officers from the landscape section. Later, they went to Miri Bulatan Park to inspect the RM500,000 upgrading works funded by National Landscape Department. In general, he was satisfied with the upgrading project that involved improvement to the existing children’s playground, traffic garden cycling path, reflexology path and the welcome signage.