ALL PLACES where yachts are moored now and where marinas are planned for Phuket in future are to be checked for environmental damage, the Governor, Wichai Praisa-nob, said today.
He specifically mentioned the plan for a new marina at Koh Sireh, the smaller island linked to Phuket City by a road bridge.
Other places where marinas are planned are also likely to be scrutinised closely.
''Some places already have marinas but there is no standard and we need to implement one,'' he told the second meeting of his special committee on the environment.
He said he believed garbage, pollution and bad water posed serious threats to Phuket's future balance between development and the environment.
If he had his way, he said, development woulds stop now. He said the problems were too great. However, under the law, development can continue.
In an effort to reduce damage, Governor Wichai has created the special committee to review environmental impact approvals on all future projects.
He told the initial meeting of the special committee last month that there was previously no mechanism in place to review the approvals, and no penalties for false approvals.
Today Phuketwan listened as the first of 37 projects was reviewed by the committee.
We have chosen in the interests of fairness not to name the project, but it is a large resort development, planned for a western beach zone.
A spokesman for the company that performed the Environmental Impact Assessment gave evidence before the committee, which includes environmentalists, a representative from the Land Office, the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation, local authorities and marine biologists.
The project was faulted on six factors and the aim today was to illustrate that those hurdles had been overcome.
Number of rooms The resort's room total had risen to 157.
Water treatment A small pond had been constructed to treat water before it was freed into the sea.
Garbage The EIA spokesman said garbage was to be brought to Phuket City for disposal at the island's communal rubbish dump. Patong authorities had declined to take trash from the new resort. The governor asked the representative from Phuket City whether the garbage could be taken there. He responded: ''No. We cannot take more garbage because the incinerator can only burm 250 tonnes a day and we already receive 300 tonnes.'' EIA representative: ''I heard that you have a plan to buy a new incinerator. Our resort will not be built for maybe two years.'' Phuket City rep: ''We do not have a deal signed for the second incinerator yet.''
Parking With 157 rooms, the EIA representative said, underground parking space was going to be provided now for 195 vehicles. The air would be extracted from the underground carpark by fans.
Landscaping Seven square metres of greenery would be provided for each guest to allow for global warming, which was two square metres above the requirement, the EIA spokesperson said.
Good Neighbors A retaining wall would be erected around the property so that neighbors will not be affected by runoff in heavy rains.
This is the fifth time this particular project has been reviewed. Today, it passed on all counts. The committee, which is to meet twice a month, was proceeding through the 37 cases, one by one.
State of Play of 37 Phuket Development Projects
Latest The Phuket Governor's special review committee considered a total of 37 projects when it met for the second time. Here are the projects and what happened to them.
State of Play of 37 Phuket Development Projects
Poachers Lose as Phuket Gains Reef Watchdogs
Photo Album Property projects on Phuket's small islands need to be controlled to prevent destruction of coral reefs and undersea environments, marine biologists say.
Poachers Lose as Phuket Gains Reef Watchdogs
Governor Seeks Database of Phuket Ownership
Latest The Governor of Phuket is seeking to build a comprehensive database of property on Phuket so that future changes in ownership can be recorded.
Governor Seeks Database of Phuket Ownership
Here's Who Owns Patong's Beachfront
Latest The drums of paranoia are being beaten by a media that fails to do proper research. Here's a list of who owns the resorts along Patong's beach road, according to the local authority.
Here's Who Owns Patong's Beachfront
Fishermen Swept from Rocks Near Patong
Latest One fisherman is missing believed drowned and a second had a narrow escape when a wave washed them off rocks in the latest of Phuket's spate of seaside mishaps.
Fishermen Swept from Rocks Near Patong
British TV Captures Gun in Phuket Jet-Ski Standoff
Photo Album Phuket's jet ski scams are about to be highlighted on British television in a series on tourist police that shows a gun being used to intimidate royal marines.
British TV Captures Gun in Phuket Jet-Ski Standoff
Phuket Flight, Passenger Numbers Hint at Recovery
Latest Phuket arrivals and departures pick up in August and promise to improve still further. All that needs to happen now for a recovery is for visitors to bring their bankrolls.
Phuket Flight, Passenger Numbers Hint at Recovery
Phuket Airport 'Crash' To Stir Tragic Memories
Latest A simulated air crash is to occur on Phuket just a day before the anniversary of the 2007 One Two Go crash, prompting recollections of the disaster and its aftermath.
Phuket Airport 'Crash' To Stir Tragic Memories
He specifically mentioned the plan for a new marina at Koh Sireh, the smaller island linked to Phuket City by a road bridge.
Other places where marinas are planned are also likely to be scrutinised closely.
''Some places already have marinas but there is no standard and we need to implement one,'' he told the second meeting of his special committee on the environment.
He said he believed garbage, pollution and bad water posed serious threats to Phuket's future balance between development and the environment.
If he had his way, he said, development woulds stop now. He said the problems were too great. However, under the law, development can continue.
In an effort to reduce damage, Governor Wichai has created the special committee to review environmental impact approvals on all future projects.
He told the initial meeting of the special committee last month that there was previously no mechanism in place to review the approvals, and no penalties for false approvals.
Today Phuketwan listened as the first of 37 projects was reviewed by the committee.
We have chosen in the interests of fairness not to name the project, but it is a large resort development, planned for a western beach zone.
A spokesman for the company that performed the Environmental Impact Assessment gave evidence before the committee, which includes environmentalists, a representative from the Land Office, the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation, local authorities and marine biologists.
The project was faulted on six factors and the aim today was to illustrate that those hurdles had been overcome.
Number of rooms The resort's room total had risen to 157.
Water treatment A small pond had been constructed to treat water before it was freed into the sea.
Garbage The EIA spokesman said garbage was to be brought to Phuket City for disposal at the island's communal rubbish dump. Patong authorities had declined to take trash from the new resort. The governor asked the representative from Phuket City whether the garbage could be taken there. He responded: ''No. We cannot take more garbage because the incinerator can only burm 250 tonnes a day and we already receive 300 tonnes.'' EIA representative: ''I heard that you have a plan to buy a new incinerator. Our resort will not be built for maybe two years.'' Phuket City rep: ''We do not have a deal signed for the second incinerator yet.''
Parking With 157 rooms, the EIA representative said, underground parking space was going to be provided now for 195 vehicles. The air would be extracted from the underground carpark by fans.
Landscaping Seven square metres of greenery would be provided for each guest to allow for global warming, which was two square metres above the requirement, the EIA spokesperson said.
Good Neighbors A retaining wall would be erected around the property so that neighbors will not be affected by runoff in heavy rains.
This is the fifth time this particular project has been reviewed. Today, it passed on all counts. The committee, which is to meet twice a month, was proceeding through the 37 cases, one by one.
State of Play of 37 Phuket Development Projects
Latest The Phuket Governor's special review committee considered a total of 37 projects when it met for the second time. Here are the projects and what happened to them.
State of Play of 37 Phuket Development Projects
Poachers Lose as Phuket Gains Reef Watchdogs
Photo Album Property projects on Phuket's small islands need to be controlled to prevent destruction of coral reefs and undersea environments, marine biologists say.
Poachers Lose as Phuket Gains Reef Watchdogs
Governor Seeks Database of Phuket Ownership
Latest The Governor of Phuket is seeking to build a comprehensive database of property on Phuket so that future changes in ownership can be recorded.
Governor Seeks Database of Phuket Ownership
Here's Who Owns Patong's Beachfront
Latest The drums of paranoia are being beaten by a media that fails to do proper research. Here's a list of who owns the resorts along Patong's beach road, according to the local authority.
Here's Who Owns Patong's Beachfront
Fishermen Swept from Rocks Near Patong
Latest One fisherman is missing believed drowned and a second had a narrow escape when a wave washed them off rocks in the latest of Phuket's spate of seaside mishaps.
Fishermen Swept from Rocks Near Patong
British TV Captures Gun in Phuket Jet-Ski Standoff
Photo Album Phuket's jet ski scams are about to be highlighted on British television in a series on tourist police that shows a gun being used to intimidate royal marines.
British TV Captures Gun in Phuket Jet-Ski Standoff
Phuket Flight, Passenger Numbers Hint at Recovery
Latest Phuket arrivals and departures pick up in August and promise to improve still further. All that needs to happen now for a recovery is for visitors to bring their bankrolls.
Phuket Flight, Passenger Numbers Hint at Recovery
Phuket Airport 'Crash' To Stir Tragic Memories
Latest A simulated air crash is to occur on Phuket just a day before the anniversary of the 2007 One Two Go crash, prompting recollections of the disaster and its aftermath.
Phuket Airport 'Crash' To Stir Tragic Memories
Good, I hope they mean it. I was at Yacht Haven the other day and the water was disgusting, with a lot of rubbish floating in it.
Of course, there needs to be education for the boat crews, too . . .
Posted by VFaye on September 8, 2009 17:12