PLANNING and preparations for strategic development need to be conducted immediately in order to achieve the aim of balanced development in all four districts and the areas around the capital, said the Minister of Development Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdullah Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, yesterday.
According the the minister, by 2025, Brunei's population is predicted to reach half a million and if trends continue, the country could develop in an unbalanced manner with development and population concentrated mostly in the Brunei-Muara District thus raising concerns over detriments to the environment, food security, sustainable development and quality of life.
At present, around 70 per cent of the population of Brunei resides in the 570 square km district and the capital, equivalent to a population density of 2,463 people per square km as compared to the largest district, Belait, where only 17 per cent of the population resides or 20 people per square km.
"This imbalance in population constitutes as an indication of an imbalance in development," said the minister during the official opening of the World Town Planning Day 2008, held yesterday at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.
"And imagine if this imbalance continues (until) 2025, with 70 per cent of the predicted 500,000 people in Brunei Darussalam residing in the Brunei-Muara District," he added.
In light of this predicament, the minister added that the strategic development has to be complimented with investments in developing the basic necessities and infrastructure such as roads and communications systems in the realisation of this goal.
Pehin Dato Hj Abdullah said that the introduction of the Land Use Master Plan 2006-2025, which is nearing completion, will be one of the important documents in shaping the policies of land usage and management.
The master plan contains broad strategic planning policy framework and a guide for the long-term physical development of the country.
The Bi-polar Urban Structure is one of the preferred long-term strategies under the master plan. The strategy will see the development of the Liang-Lumut area as a second urban centre to cater to a more even distribution of the population and development.
District plans are also underway, which follow the guidelines of the master plan but are specifically designed for each respective district.
"The roles and challenges of town planning are becoming more critical in attending to the agenda of greater development in helping to achieve the objective of socio-economic advancement and the government's goals such as increasing the supply of houses," the minister said.
In the aspect of development control, the minister said that the plans have to prioritise the welfare of the public as well as encouraging individuals to be involved in raising their respective quality of life. Without the input and cooperation of the public, problems will arise where the comfort of community life could be compromised, he said.
In this light, he expressed his personal opinion that the designs of buildings in some business and housing areas do not take into account the aesthetic values and local amenities as well as not contributing to the betterment of the building's surroundings.
"It is made worse when these buildings do not take into account practical issues (such as) sensitivity to the needs of special needs people, senior citizens, inadequate parking spaces and narrow passageways without considering the safety and welfare of the public," he said.
He urged the relevant parties not to think only of personal gain upon constructing buildings, but to have a sense of responsibility in raising the quality of development.
He also called upon architects and registered qualified persons to inform and advise these developers and land-owners of the regulations set in place as well as provide them with design options.
In turn, he said that the relevant government agencies will cooperate to speed up the application processes. He added that the Ministry of Development along with relevant government agencies are looking into the possibility of a unified development and building control authority.
The minister said the theme of this year's World Town Planning Day, "Paving the Way For a Balanced Development", supported the aim of creating more equitable development.
He hoped that the two-day seminar will benefit the participants.
No comments:
Post a Comment