Tire park to be converted into recreational area

The government is set to enhance the Taipa area by merging the BT11 and BT12 sites into a recreational park with an underground car park.

The two plots of land designated as BT11 and BT12 are situated in the central area of Taipa and were formerly home to the largest textile factory in Macau.

In 2020, the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) proposed allocating MOP30 million to develop a temporary tire park on these sites, covering about 19,000 square meters and utilizing around 1,700 tires, with construction expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2021.

However, the project faced delays due to concerns about tire hygiene and safety, as well as disputes regarding the preservation of the old textile factory buildings, leading to a temporary suspension of the plan.

In 2022,  The Land and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU) approved the planning conditions for the land originally designated for the temporary tire park, along with four adjacent residential plots along Avenida Kwong Tung. During the public consultation period, over 400 objections were received opposing the use of the land for residential development, with strong community support for the construction of a park and recreational facilities instead.

Ultimately, in 2023, the DSSCU re-approved the residential land through a public tender process, offering the two plots originally intended for the temporary tire park for public bidding, with starting prices of MOP1.136 billion and MOP777 million, respectively. Notably, the tender did not include the BT11 and BT12 plots.

During his appearance at yesterday’s Legislative Assembly (AL) session, the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raymond Tam, announced the government’s plans to transform the BT11 and BT12 sites into a recreational park and an underground car park.

In response to suggestions about establishing a skateboard park there, he noted that the feasibility of such a project would depend on the actual circumstances.

Another proposed location for temporary parking facilities or recreational facilities is the Nam Van Lake area, particularly Sections A3 and A4, according to his remarks.