Public discontent over reclamation zone plan escalates

This model is currently displayed at Tap Seac’s Glass House depicts Reclamation Zone A, where 96,000 people are expected to live in 32,000 residential units that stretch along 138 hectares

The Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT) has announced that it will extend the planned reclamation zone public consultation period for 20 more days to August 28, following a public outcry criticizing the government’s intent to concentrate public housing complexes within Reclamation Zone A, while planning other zones as green areas with low-density or high-end commercial residences.
The five new reclamation zones are projected to accommodate 162,000 inhabitants, with plans for about 28,000 public housing units and 26,000 private units. The current plan places all public housing complexes in Zone A, which projects a residential density of 70,000 people per square kilometer in the area, according to bureau director Li Canfeng.
Responding to the public’s demand to evenly allocate public housing units across the five zones, Li defended the master plan by comparing it with the old  neighborhoods in the North-
ern District, where residential density exceeds 170,000 people per square kilometer.
Although Zone B and the combination of Zone C, D and E  are, respectively, able to accommodate a residential density
of 12,000 people and 36,800 people per square kilometer, Li stressed that living in Zone A would be more convenient as there would be more complete facilities. Morever, he said that not every zone could be a green area with low residential density.
Amidst the public outcry, civic group Macao Civic Power criticized the master plan as, “not only [lacking] an overall urban planning and vision, [it] also shows no professional technical assessments.”
The group stressed that the planning of reclaimed zones should be in line with the city’s trait of “small but beautiful,” thereby designing the new land around connected communities rather than creating urban gaps between each zone.
Furthermore, it criticized the current plan for Zone A as resulting in an isolated isle surrounded by still water due to the site location. Besides shortcomings in terms of public hygiene, environment and transportation, the group argued that the authorities have also failed to provide adequate information in terms of necessary community facilities to serve the area’s dense population.

indecision over fourth macau-taipa link

Regarding the fourth Macau-Taipa link, the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raimundo do Rosário, said that a bridge and underwater tunnel are both valuable options with advantages and disadvantages. He added that the government is still evaluating which option is more appropriate for the region.