SIX NEW resort projects won preliminary approval from the Governor's special environmental committee today, including a fourth Courtyard by Marriott, this one at Karon, a Novotel for Kamala Bay, and a Phuket Arcadia at Naithon.

All six projects total 1253 rooms and suites, a large increase in Phuket's top-end accommodation. The relatively new governor's committee has become the final stage for approval of all Phuket developments, with an emphasis on double-checking environmental studies and impact.

A second large incinerator to help dispose of Phuket's growing mounds of waste was approved today, to be built near the existing one at Saphan Hin, in Phuket City.

A large development of 364 villas in Phuket City was also given first-stage approval.

Most interest centred on the impact and aesthetics of the Kata Rocks project, an exclusive villa development planned on a headland that also overlooks Kata Noi. (Edward ''Bear'' Grylls of Discovery Channel has been reported to be a Kata Rocks buyer.)

Dr Nalinee Tongtam, who has responsibility for checking environmental issues on behalf of the committee, said that the development would be visible from the Karon Viewpoint.

A spokesman for the firm that did the impact study said the developers had undertaken to obscure the project with green sheeting to reduce the scar on the landscape.

Dr Nalinee also questioned the effect of construction runoff on a coral reef 600 metres away, and the long-term issue of disposing of bad water.

The impact study spokesman said all water would be recycled and run-off would be prevented by provision of collecting trenches and ponds. The developers were aware of the need for containing all potential harmful aspects of the process.

The project, being put before the committee for the sixth time, was approved.


The six resort projects that were given the first-stage go-ahead for documentation today were:

Courtyard by Marriott at Karon
221 rooms, at Patak Road, Karon. (Other Courtyards have recently been opened at Patong, Surin and Kamala, with a Renaissance under construction near the original JW Marriott on the northern beach of Mai Khao.)

Novotel Kamala Bay
180 rooms at Kamala sub-district. (Novotels already operate at Patong and near Cape Panwa).

The Royal Place Tower
260 rooms in Praphuket Road, Kathu. (Managed condominium.)

Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach
218 rooms at Moo 4, Saku sub-district. (Phuket's largest single resort is the Phuket Hilton Arcadia at Karon.)

Baan Lai Mai Beach Resort and Spa
157 rooms being added to the existing resort in Taweewong Road, (the beach road) Patong.

Awista Resort and Spa Patong
154 rooms at Patong


Phuket Golden View
364 villas at Vichit Songkran Road, close to Central Festival in Phuket City.


Power-generating incinerator
Tessaban Phuket, Saphan Hin.