Macau, China, 21 Jun – The Macau government will reclaim 3.5 sq km of land in the next five years to provide new areas for the territory expansion, said Secretary for Transport and Public Works Lau Si Io last week.
"Over half of the 350 hectares (3.5 sq km) of land to be reclaimed will be reserved for public facilities", Lau Si Io pledged.
The land reclamation project will increase Macau’s land area, which stands at 29.5 sq km, by nearly 12 percent to 33 sq km.
In 2006, the Macau government applied to the central government for permission to go ahead with further reclamation work in Macau. In November last year, Beijing green-lighted the project.
"Over half of the reclaimed land will be reserved for public transport facilities, public areas, green areas and other public facilities," Lau said during a press conference last Friday.
The government will also reserve a "suitable" portion of reclaimed land for the development of non-gaming industries and public housing, according to the policy secretary.
"No development by the gaming sector will be allowed on the newly reclaimed land. Priority will be given to development of public facilities," said Lao long.
The government will also reserve a "suitable" portion of reclaimed land for the development of non-gaming indus瑃ries and public housing, according to the policy secretary.
Lao long also said once all reclamation work is complete, a new coastline of "over 20 kilometres" will have been created.
Lao long, urban development chief of the Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT) said that the budget for the reclamation work will not be announced until the next stage of planning.
According to the Macau Post Daily the 350-hectare-area of reclaimed land will be divided into five sections along the current coastline of the eastern and southern Macau Peninsula, as well as the northern part of Taipa. They will be used for commercial and residential developments, public and social facilities and other non-gaming industries.
Most of Macau’s land area has been reclaimed from the sea. The land area comprising the peninsula and Taipa and Coloane stood at just11.6 sq km in 1912.
(MacauNews)
