Phuket Locals Keen To Drown Ao Phuket Project

[alanmorison]

A HASTILY-CALLED meeting to discuss the 63.5 billion baht Ao Phuket project brought angry responses from local leaders today.

They were irate about two things: the lack of warning about the meeting, which was brought forward a day at the last minute, and the 2200 rai project itself.

Ao Phuket would involve building a 37 billion baht conference centre on reclaimed land off Phuket City's Saphan Hin public park, with a 26.5 billion deep-water marina.

The project, first mooted in 1989, has a long and troubled history. The original proposal by the Orborjor was part of a plan to give economic autonomy to the whole province of Phuket.

The ''independent Phuket'' part of the plan has vanished.

Critics today say Ao Phuket on its own would be a waste of money because large amounts of public land are available elsewhere, much closer to the Phuket International Airport.

The meeting saw plenty of critics in action against a few defenders of the project.

Worasit Rojanapanit, director of the key Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), told about 100 people at the Phuket Merlin Hotel in Phuket City that the process of listening to local opinion had just begun.

But one woman in the audience responded that if everyone in Phuket had known about the meeting, many more would have turned up and asked awkward questions.

Locals needed much more information about the project, she said.

People connected with the environment certainly needed to be told what was happening, but so did students, farmers, teachers, monks, fisherfolk and officer workers - in fact, all Phuket residents.

Bringing international visitors to Phuket was something everyone wanted but local needs and the environment were also important, said Chalong community leader Suta Pratep Na Talang.

He said he did not believe the project offered sufficient benefits to locals.

Others spoke out against the destruction of Saphan Hin as a public park and a sports centre that thousands of locals also used for festivals and picnics all year round.

A construction period of several years, coupled with the building of new roads, would bring an end to the park and its benefits.

The Ao Phuket project, on the other hand, would only be used by conference centre visitors and rich yacht owners.

Khun Worasit promised that he and other members of DASTA would return to Phuket frequently to explain the project thoroughly and listen to what local people had to say.

Some people questioned why he would come back when the message from the meeting was one of overwhelming opposition to the project.

--More reports at www.phuketwan.com

[NBT TV Phuket]

MiniVDO: Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) sought local opinions on Phuket Bay development.

on http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/prev...php?news_id=148

The majority of relevant agencies agreed with the development of Phuket bay, under the condition that comprehensive study is conducted and does not adversely affect the environment and local livelihoods. The Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) is now gathering local opinions on the proposal to announce Ao Phuket or Phuket Bay and its adjacent area as a designated area for sustainable tourism. Opinions from public forums comprising representatives of many parties concerned were sought with many agreeing with the new development, but its impact must be carried out, in the form of local livelihoods, infrastructure and more importantly the general public must be informed in much more detail. It was similar in a session in which the executive director Mr. Worasit Rojanapanit explained to provincial head officials, who mostly support the plan, but with the same conditions. Meanwhile Phuket Governor Nirund Kalayanamit stressed that if it happens, the project would greatly benefit Phuket as it will suit the tourism industry such as in the MICE markets and marine industry. He also pointed out that many major foreign investors have voiced their interest in the project.

Andaman News NBT (VHF dial) at 8.30am & local Cable TV channel 1 + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, & possibly FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket, Friday 30 May 2008 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ Contact [email protected]

[tamsin]

MiniVDO: Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) sought local opinions on Phuket Bay development.

on http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/prev...php?news_id=148

The majority of relevant agencies agreed with the development of Phuket bay, under the condition that comprehensive study is conducted and does not adversely affect the environment and local livelihoods. The Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) is now gathering local opinions on the proposal to announce Ao Phuket or Phuket Bay and its adjacent area as a designated area for sustainable tourism. Opinions from public forums comprising representatives of many parties concerned were sought with many agreeing with the new development, but its impact must be carried out, in the form of local livelihoods, infrastructure and more importantly the general public must be informed in much more detail. It was similar in a session in which the executive director Mr. Worasit Rojanapanit explained to provincial head officials, who mostly support the plan, but with the same conditions. Meanwhile Phuket Governor Nirund Kalayanamit stressed that if it happens, the project would greatly benefit Phuket as it will suit the tourism industry such as in the MICE markets and marine industry. He also pointed out that many major foreign investors have voiced their interest in the project.

Who? Anyone can quote sources from anywhere. So who are these 'foreign investors' who would do business on an island groaning under the weight of inadequate infrastructure. The roads are a mess and will not sustain any more traffic within the very near future. Anyone actually been into Phuket Town lately? Not to mention the lack of any basic concrete roads at all in many of the sois in rapidly expanding Rawai. New housing is still being slapped up at an alarming rate, it's ridiculous to see all these 4x4s and saloons trying to navigate their way along mud tracks, to and from their 'willas' (sic) after just one night's heavy rain.

And how are these MICE people supposed to be able to do business with the laughable, way down the To Do List, of adequate internet connection here?

My guess is, but don't quote me on this one, that the only people pushing this for all it will be worth (another chain of empty shophouse scenario), are the people who stand to gain a LOT of backhanders, contracts, from the corrupt, who just can't get enough, can they?

[LiveSteam]

THE most logical place to have the marina and convention center is Ao Phuket. In Ao Phuket you reclaim the land which you don't have to buy, that is cheaper than buying land elsewhere and then making a marina. The marina is essential for Phuket because it's an island and boating will be its future identity. If you don't have the boating Phuket is just another Thai province.

LiveSteam