A NORWEGIAN firm is the latest to make a pitch to Phuket to transform Phuket City's seafront park into a multi-purpose urban precinct.

Saphan Hin is Phuket City's largest public outlet to the east coast and remains a popular place to stage events of all kinds, all year long. Phuket families often picnic there, on the grass by the sea.

Bangkok-based Nattnasak Songserm, representing the naval architects and engineers LMG Marin, presented the potential for developing the park property to Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha yesterday.

The governor said he would look at the proposal and get back. On the basic outline is a plan to develop land and sea accommodation around the park, with a marina for yachts.

At one time before the fall of the Thai Rak Thai Government under Thaksin Shinawatra and his successors, the development of an offshore island at Saphan Hin was a multi-billion ''superproject,'' with Bangkok controlling the purse.

The latest concept appears more modest by comparison, and perhaps more in keeping with the park's role as the lungs of Phuket City. Not far away is the island's single garbage incinerator and a growing landscape of waste.

Khun Nattnasak said that if the governor approved the project, LMG Marin would require $34,000 to fund research into the relevant regulations as well as the environmental effects.

Piecemeal planning has led to various sports and educational facilities being erected on parkland but without a sense that there is a grand plan. At least three Phuket municipalities have a say in what happens at Saphan Hin.

It is believed that LMG Marin has already talked on two occasions to Phuket City municipality officials.

Chinese construction firms have led the way recently in beating a path to the door of the governor to discuss major infrastructure projects, particularly a Phuket light-rail service.