KOTA KINABALU: About 226 hectares (558 acres) of land reclamation would be carried out for the Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED).
Project management director Peter Adam told a press conference here yesterday this would encompass 65 percent of the entire project area of about 348 hectares or 860 acres.
Reporters were given the assurance that the reclamation work that would be carried out for TAED would not adversely impact the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP) or the surrounding coral areas.
It was also mentioned that hydraulic studies have been done to ensure the reclamation works carried out would not pose a problem and the Tanjung Aru beach would remain stable (not erode).
It is a known fact that the Tanjung Aru beach, including the Prince Philip Park, had undergone serious erosion issues for years and the studies carried out would hopefully help to mitigate the issue.
Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai told reporters that the Tanjung Aru beach has been facing erosion problem since 1985.
“This is one chance for us to transform the beach,” he said.
Yeo also reminded that among the most beautiful developments in the city, the Sutera Harbour Resort, was made possible through land reclamation and that areas in the city such as Segama was also formerly part of the sea that was reclaimed.
He added that he has been involved in the National Coastal Erosion Study and in the protection of beaches since 1985.
He also disclosed that the environment undergoes dynamic changes all the time and goes through a lot of transformation. Yeo also mentioned that studies carried out on the beach water found large concentration of e-coli of between 3,000 to 4,000.
“There will be no more emission of septic tank wastes into Tanjung Aru (beach),” he said.
Yeo also said that efforts will be made to transplant the heritage trees that would be affected by the development. He said they were “cracking their heads” figuring how to maintain and ensure the survival of as many trees as possible.
He also said that the City Hall kept an inventory of all the heritage trees and mentioned that there were about 200 of them with 600 large trees.
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