The Department of Environment of Malaysia is expected to announce its findings about Country Garden’s Forest City project in the coast of Johor this week, after it has scrutinized the developer’s detailed environmental impact assessment (DEIA) report.
Touted as the largest reclamation project in the state, work at the RM600 billion (S$227 billion) development has been stopped since June 2014 after fishermen complained about its possible effects on their livelihood, while Singapore raised some environmental concerns.
Notably, the massive project will involve the creation of four man-made islands in the waters of Tanjung Kupang near the boundary of Singapore and Johor, on which residential and commercial properties will be built.
According to a copy of the DEIA report, one of the developer’s plans to reduce sediment dispersion into neighbouring waters is the installation of a silt curtain within the perimeter of the reclamation area.
In spite of these measures to mitigate the negative effects to the environment, the flora and fauna living within the area won’t be left unscathed.
For instance, the dredging of an elongated strip of shallow water spanning 11.9 kilometres in length and 200 metres in width will most likely “disturb or destroy” the animals and plants on the seabed, noted an EIA expert who wished to remain anonymous.
This concurred with the DEIA report, which said the sensitive seagrass beds at Merambong and Tanjung Adang Shoals could be significantly harmed as both are within the project site.
“The close proximity and very little buffer between the beds and the project site will render mitigation measures less effective,” added DEIA report.
Farah Wahida, Editor of PropertyGuru Malaysia, wrote this story. To contact her about this or other stories email farahwahida@propertyguru.com.my
