Weighing in on the public debate over whether a landfill for construction waste in the form of an island should be built in waters off Hac Sa Beach, lawmaker José Pereira Coutinho has urged the government to reconsider its controversial location, Jornal Tribuna de Macau reports.
In a written statement, Coutinho reportedly expressed concern that current plans for the so-called ‘ecological island’ would harm marine life, particularly Chinese white dolphins. The rare dolphin species frequents the area where the island will be built, an issue environmentalists have repeatedly highlighted as problematic.
The lawmaker also requested further information about environmental studies carried out to assess the negative effects of such a project on the marine environment, as well as details on “concrete and effective measures” officials were taking to protect Chinese white dolphins.
[See more: Local activist slams government over plan for ‘ecological island’]
However, Coutinho did acknowledge “the importance of implementing the ecological Island construction project” due to the lack of space for waste disposal within Macao’s land borders. He noted that its location, rather than the project itself, was the issue at stake.
“Its location must be carefully chosen, properly planned and executed, with a focus on environmental protection and sustainability,” he said.
“It is crucial that rigorous control and monitoring measures are adopted to ensure that the construction of the ecological Island will not cause harmful impacts on marine life, coastal ecosystems and water quality.”
The government has maintained that the proposed ecological island was both environmentally sound and necessary. It has also defended its proposed location, which has Beijing’s approval – even though it overlaps with Chinese white dolphins’ habitat and sits within one of Macao’s few pristine natural vistas.
