A group of 10 old trees in Taipa’s Caminho das Hortas street can only be protected through a coordinated decision involving all the stakeholders, the president of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), Deland Leong told the media on the sidelines of the press conference that announced this year’s Macau Arts Festival.
As the Times reported, the topic was raised for the first time during a meeting of the Urban Planning Committee (CPU) two weeks ago while discussing the Urban Conditions Plan of a two-tower residential building to be built in the area.
Questioned by the media on the matter, Leong explained that IC is only one of the departments involved in heritage protection and which issues advice for the protection of valuable heritage items such as old trees.
“According to law for the preservation [of the trees] there are several government departments involved, and IC is mostly in charge of cultural heritage. We do have a [view] on the preservation of old trees as we have a list of classified trees for preservation but our role is more on the management of these trees,” Leong said, adding, “If our advice is solicited [by the government] we will issue it.”
The IC president stated that preservation of the trees was dependent on a coordinated response from the different departments involved, including the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), and other stakeholders such as the landowner and the Land, Public Works, and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT).
She also clarified that, contrary to the procedure for buildings and other immovable property, moving trees does not require a decision from the Chief Executive.
On the line are trees located by the side of the road in Caminho das Hortas street in Taipa, in an area known as Cheong Ka Village.
At the discussion in the CPU, the DSSOPT proposed that the trees should be relocated to another area to give way for the enlargement of the current street, which would be an important part of Taipa’s road network in the future.
According to the Urban Plan for the North of Taipa, the government aims to widen this narrow road to connect to the Avenida de Guimarães and Avenida de Sun Yat Sen at the Sun Yat Sen roundabout.
An IAM representative at the meeting expressed concern that widening the existing road poses a risk to the trees, and proposed the possibility of a change to the current plan.
