The Environmental Bureau is conducting a public consultation on the environmental impact of an island the government plans to build off Hac Sa Beach using construction waste.
Members of the public have until 28 April to complete and submit a form to the authorities to offer their views on the project and its potential effect on the environment.
The government argues that the artificial island is the only viable solution to Macao’s construction waste problem, because the city’s landfill is at capacity. To garner support for the project, it has been terming it an “ecological island.”
[See more: Lawmaker calls for proposed ‘ecological island’ to be relocated]
However, the project has angered conservationists, who are concerned that the island will threaten endangered Chinese white dolphins and harm the environment. The location of the island, off one of Macao’s most scenic stretches of coast, has also been questioned.
Despite misgivings, the use of construction waste for land reclamation is common around the world as is seen in some quarters as an acceptable solution to the huge amount of discarded material generated by the building sector.
Construction waste is being used for Hong Kong’s ambitious Lantau reclamation project and for part of the 2025 World Expo site in Osaka Bay.
