KOTA KINABALU: A land reclamation project involving Tanjung Aru beach could damage it and cause other environmental problems, warned a conservationist group.
The Save Our Open Spaces group urged the Government to scrap the planned multi-billion ringgit redevelopment of the 340ha area.
It claimed that the methods proposed in the project were against the objective of rejuvenating Tanjung Aru.
The group had been briefed by project consultant DHI, appointed by the developer Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) on Sunday.
TAED wanted the beach to be pushed further towards the sea to help overcome pollution from the neighbouring Petagas river, said the group.
Apparently, this would also increase public access to the beach and create a buffer zone between the planned private resorts and public area.
“But this means they will be reclaiming the area and creating a new beach, an artificial beach, which in itself would be an environmental disaster,” said a spokesman for the group.
The group believes that by pushing the beach further out, it would also put swimmers and beach goers in danger of strong undercurrents and waves.
Also, the plan to “divert” the river away from the beach was not a solution to the pollution problem, said the spokesman, explaining that this would merely channel the pollution into the sea.
“This could cause pollution issues in other areas, such as the islands at Tunku Abdul Rahman Park which is a centre for water activities, especially scuba diving,” the spokesman said.
The group also questioned the proposal to source sand from Sunken Barrier Shoal, near Pulau Mengalum, about 50km northwest of the city, for the reclamation work.
It described the move as “another environmental time bomb”.
Having heaps of heavy barges in the area would increase the risk of accidents and polluting the nearby Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and its coral reefs, the group pointed out.
The redevelopment project will include a large public park, a 133ha golf course designed by Greg Norman, seven hotels offering 1,800 rooms in total, and about 5,000 apartment and condominium units.
