Paiboon calls for “dam healthy Phuket’

PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Administration Organization President Paiboon Upatising has called for plans to redevelop Bang Wad Dam and Bang Neaw Dam – Phuket’s two main water reservoirs – to include jogging tracks and bike lanes as key recreational features at the sites.

Mr Paiboon called for the healthy additions yesterday at a public hearing at Kathu Municipality offices to announce the latest plans drawn up by hired consultants Phisut Technology Co Ltd.

“I would like to ask Phisut Technology to list how long the jogging and bike tracks will be. Also, I would like to see the ‘relax zones’ to be completed first so people can go jogging and biking and enjoy green surroundings,” he said.

“I prefer Phuket residents to have a ‘green place’ first, and then we can develop the other zones for tourists later. The more important thing is brightness and safety. Please have these factors accounted for in the plans,” he added.

Mr Paiboon said that the plans to redevelop the areas around both reservoirs into recreational zones included a total budget of 590 million baht.

“I would like work to start by 2013 so we can have green parks on the island for Phuket residents, as I have promised,” he said.

Also at the public hearing yesterday – which followed the initial public-feedback meeting at the Phuket Merlin Hotel on July 5 – were Kathu Mayor Chaianan Suthikul, Muang District Office Chief Manop Leelasuthanon, and local residents.

Presenting the designs on behalf of Phisut Technology was Urban Area Architectural Specialist Designer Somluk Bunnarong.

The budget for redeveloping Bang Wad Dam is about 223 million baht, with the site drawn up to include four zones: 1) Service zone; 2) Seminar zone; 3) Botanical garden and recreational area; and 4) dam adventure zone.

“The Service zone will be at the present parking area, while the Seminar zone will be at the Irrigation Department office, where we will build a seminar building with a capacity of 200 people,” Mr Somluk said.

The botanical garden and recreational area will be on the west side of the site and will include a jogging track with the the theme “Local Seedlings” to educate students and other visitors about the local flora.

“The Dam adventure zone will be at the south end of the dam, and will include a jogging track and a ‘dam island’. We would like to develop this area to be a fun adventure and healthy zone where students and other people who love adventure can go camping,” Mr Somluk said.

He added that Bang Neow Dam, in Thalang, is also to be developed into four zones: 1) Multifunction zone; 2) Camping zone; 3) Relaxation and Recreational zone; and 4) Office and residential zone.

— Chutharat Plerin