Association calls for quieter community spaces

[Photo; Wilson Wong]

Residents have raised concerns about noise issues in older districts on the Macau peninsula during a monthly community reception organized by the Women’s General Association of Macau.

In attendance were Legislative Assembly (AL) members Grace Wong Kit Cheng and Ella Lei, and lawyers were also invited to provide legal consultations and help residents address various community issues.

During the reception, a resident from the Ilha Verde area expressed concern about the high concentration of nuisance facilities, such as scrapyards and auto repair shops, in the district.

The resident said these facilities, along with serious illegal parking problems, have affected traffic conditions, the living environment, and contributed to noise disturbances in the neighborhood.

Wong said the government is promoting the planning and temporary use of idle land and hopes to adopt a dual-track approach of “planned utilization and temporary use” to improve land-use efficiency and respond to community needs.

Last month, the government unveiled a plan to temporarily utilize 30 idle land plots.

The proposal was first announced by Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raymond Tam during a recent visit to the Legislative Assembly, where he noted that following the release of nine idle land plots for temporary use in 2025, another 30 plots would be made available.

Under the plan, 13 parcels will be designated for recreational areas, 12 for outdoor parking spaces for light- and heavy-duty vehicles, one for sports facilities, one for environmental protection-related use, and three for other mixed-use purposes. Officials said the initiative aims to improve land utilization while responding to community and urban development needs.

Wong said the approach should align with the “Ilha Verde Urban Plan 2024” to gradually introduce long-term community facilities. Ricaela Diputado