Marinas - Public Sessions & Concerns

MiniVDO: A public session on the new marina project at Yamu Cape in Phuket was held yesterday while locals were still not united in their opinions.

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The public session on a proposed marina project called ‘The Yamu’ took place yesterday at a community multi-purpose building in Paklok sub-district. Villagers expressed their opinion in support and against the project, at the meeting attended by representatives from the Marine Office, Paklok local government and the Phuket Marine Biological Centre. The session aimed at providing the locals with a forum to have their say on new development in their community. The opinion of the villagers were however divided into two groups. Those who agreed with the project voiced their support saying that it would help with local jobs and economy, while those who disagreed cited environmental effects on marine fertility there. A representative from a foreign company which proposed to build the marina reaffirmed to the local villagers that it will follow any legal procedures and that it had no intention to create conflict in the community.

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MiniVDO : A public hearing session on the Chalong Marina project was held.

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The design, environmental, economic and social impacts of the proposed expanded marina in Chalong bay were reported and public opinion sought during a public hearing session held on Tuesday at Muang Phuket school in Chalong. The session, aimed at gathering public or stakeholders’ views and concerns, was chaired by Phuket Vice governor Worapot Ratasrima and also attended by officials from the Marine Department and three consultant firms, including Golden Plan Company Ltd. Around 120 people attended the public session. The first phase of the project, which cost 70 million baht, is now being carried out. The second phase will comprise berths for at least 166 boats, multi-purpose building, utilities, and breakwaves. The local fishermen disagreed with the business operators there as they said they are concerned about the environment in the bay. The vice governor stressed that this was not a final public hearing and that all suggestions and concerns will be taken into consideration to assure that the new development goes along with local livelihood.

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MiniVDO: A National Human Right Commission is concerned about Human Right Violations particularly in building marinas in fishing communities, suggesting that the community should be strong.

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The Ministry of Transportation and Communications has now stopped a plan to build a marina at Klong Son in Koh Yao district of Phang-Nga after local villagers cried out and submitted their petition against it. This followed the National on Human Rights Commission’s inspection and finding that the plan was in contradiction to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment which announced the area to be under environmental protection after the tsunami. A commission member Wasan Panit commented that marinas are reported to be planned in many locations in south Thailand. He called for communities to pay attention to new developments in their community and unite to have their say in them. He also voiced his concerns over marina or pier constructions in Phuket saying that environmental impact assessments must not deviate away from the facts.

from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) + Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket City, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, 8.30am & maybe later on Phuket Cable TV Channel 1, Thursday 7 June 2007 & www.Thaisnews.com {Our news text and mini-videos can be freely copied, but give credit to Andaman News TV11 Phuket or contact [email protected]}