Greeen City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities INDONESIA-MALAYSIA-THAILAND GROWTH TRIANGLE

INDONESIA-MALAYSIA-THAILAND GROWTH TRIANGLE GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities INDONESIA-MALAYSIA-THAILAND GROWTH TRIANGLE

GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

March The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reﬂect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or its Board of Governors or the governments they represent.

ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use.

By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

ADB encourages printing or copying information exclusively for personal and noncommercial use with proper acknowledgment of ADB. Users are restricted from reselling, redistributing, or creating derivative words for commercial purposes without the express, written consent of ADB. Contents

List of Tables and Figures v

Acknowledgments vi

Executive Summary vii

Introduction . Background . Country, Provincial and City Context . Purpose and Process to Prepare the GCAP

Mueang Songkhla – Urban Proﬁle . Land Use and Land Management System . Enabling Environment . Economic Assets . Environmental Services and Quality . Transportation-Related Accessibility . Low Income Housing . Budgeting and Financial resources . Summary of Key Issues and Analysis

Mueang Songkhla’s Vision for a GrEEEn City . Stakeholder Workshop . Vision for a GrEEEn City . SWOT Analysis

Scoping GrEEEn Initiatives for Mueang Songkhla . Initiative : Promote Tourism in Songkhla . Initiative : Enhance Land Management . Initiative : Enhance Environmental Quality . Initiative : Pursue Innovative Financing Mechanisms . Summary of Initiatives, Suggested Timeline and Responsibilities . Estimated Costs

Hat Yai Municipality – Urban Proﬁle . Land Use and Land Management System . Enabling Environment . Economic Assets . Environmental Services and Quality . Transportation-Related Accessibility . Low Income Housing . Budgeting and Financing . Summary of Key Issues and Analysis

iii Hat Yai Municipality’s Vision for a GrEEEn City . Stakeholder Workshop . Vision for a GrEEEn City . SWOT Analysis

Scoping GrEEEn Initiatives for Hat Yai Municipality . Initiative : Diversify Tourism Opportunities . Initiative : Promote Living with Floods While Seeking to Reduce Floods . Initiative : Enhance Environmental Quality . Initiative : Promote Low Carbon Growth . Initiative : Enhance Land Management . Initiative : Pursue Innovative Financing Mechanisms . Summary of Initiatives, Suggested Timeline and Responsibilities . Estimated Costs

Institutional Arrangement for Implementation . GrEEEn City Working Group . Measures to Support Implementation . Next Steps

iv List of Tables and Figures

Tables . Plans and Codes Related to Land Management in Mueang Songkhla . Summary of Key Issues and Analysis from a GrEEEn City Perspective in Mueang Songkhla . Summary of Initiatives, Related Actions, Potential Beneﬁts and Level of Government Responsible for Leading Implementation . Order of Magnitude Cost Estimates for Proposed Initiatives . Summary of Key Issues and Analysis from a GrEEEn City Perspective in Hat Yai Municipality . Summary of Initiatives, Related Actions, Potential Beneﬁts and Level of Government Responsible for Leading Implementation . Order of Magnitude Cost Estimates for Proposed Initiatives

Figures . GrEEEn Cities Operational Framework .-. Location of Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities . Thai Bureaucracy System . Location of Low Income/Slum Housing in Songkhla . Mapping of Vision Statements Received from Participants at the Stakeholder Workshop in Mueang Songkhla . Thai Bureaucracy System . Air Quality Data for Hat Yai Municipality . Mapping of Vision Statements Received from Participants at the Stakeholder Workshop in Hat Yai . Example of a Framework Plan and Street Hierachy Diagram . Example of a Small Area Plan Emphasizing Di¦erent Neighborhood Characteristics . Next Steps

v Acknowledgments

Consultants Amit Prothi, Vaideeswaran S., Ramola Naik Singru and Dr. Jaray Suwannachart prepared this GCAP. The GCAP was designed and supervised by Sonia Chand Sandhu (Senior Environmental Specialist, ADB), Alfredo Perdiguero (Principal Regional Cooperation Specialist, ADB) and Gary Krishnan (Country Specialist, ADB). The GCAP was ﬁnanced under the ADB’s Technical Assistance (TA- REG), Public-Private Partnership Development in BIMP-EAGA and IMT-GT. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support and technical inputs received from the government of Thailand, particularly from the Songkhla Governor’s oªce, Mueang Songkhla and Hat Yai municipality, Oªce of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), and the Centre for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation (CIMT).

vi Executive Summary

Urban regions are key drivers of economic growth. However, urbanization has also been linked to environmental degradation and social challenges, such as polluted air and contaminated rivers, and rising inequalities. Responding to these trends, the GrEEEn Cities approach promotes livable cities through a balanced emphasis on the three complementary components of urban development (the three Es: Environment, Economic and Equity).

The GrEEEn City Action Plan (GCAP) is an initial step towards putting Mueang Songkhla and Hat Yai municipality on a path to become GrEEEn Cities. The Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), a sub-regional economic cooperation program aimed at spurring economic development in participating provinces and states in the three countries, has prioritized sustainable urban development. The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB), aiming to promote Thailand’s national agenda towards developing ecocities, and as a participant in the IMT-GT, is also keen for Songkhla and Hat Yai to become pioneer GrEEEn Cities in the region.

Songkhla and Hat Yai are two of the largest cities in southern Thailand. Songkhla is a port city that is looking to enhance livability by promoting economic development related to cultural and natural tourism. Hat Yai is already a popular tourist destination for entertainment and shopping, and a center for commerce and education, that is keen to enhance its livability by becoming resilient to urban ﬂooding and continue its economic dominance in the region.

The GCAP is supported by the ADB that promotes integrated urban development and environmental planning in an e¦ort to develop sustainable cities in Asia. The GCAP is guided by the ADB’s operational framework for GrEEEn Cities that places emphasis on “doing things di¦erently,” to respond to environmental degradation, ineªcient resource consumption, inequitable growth, and increased risks of climate change and natural disasters related to rapid urbanization.

The GCAP was conducted based on primary consultations with stakeholders and secondary technical data. The GCAP is limited to the municipal boundaries of Mueang Songkhla and Hat Yai.

The GCAP consists of three main parts:

• The ﬁrst part provides a snapshot of the existing conditions and key issues related to livability in each city. These are based on a review of existing documents and interviews with public oªcials and key stakeholders; • In a stakeholder and visioning workshop organized in each city, there was general consensus amongst government leaders, residents and business community members towards sustainable urban development. The key issues raised and the common vision are highlighted in the second part of the report; • The third part of the GCAP presents broad potential actions, including implementation mechanisms, which could help Songkhla and Hat Yai initiate activities towards becoming GrEEEn Cities. These actions include existing and planned projects and programs, as well as suggestions that are based on a review vii viii Executive Summary

of global best practices. The next steps will be to prioritize and develop these potential actions in further detail.

Key challenges and issues that Mueang Songkhla and Hat Yai face along with Initiatives and actions proposed to address them are summarized in the following tables.

Summary of Key Issues in Mueang Songkhla

Some of the Key Issues in Songkhla Contributing Factors Land Use and Land Management System • Considerable pressure to develop green • Small size of the city and limited lands available for development areas • Government occupies more than percent of all land, limiting • Encroachment along beachfront and public availability for other purposes including low income housing and railroad ROW. tourism facilities Enabling Context () • Lack of coordination between di¦erent • National decentralization law has pushed decision-making to levels of government and across municipal the local and provincial governments. These governments have boundaries limited financial and human resources to address and manage multisectoral and multi-jurisdictional issues. Economic Assets • Risk of loss of heritage and cultural • Lack of maintenance and ad hoc demolition of private properties experience in the Old Town • Bars and other establishments catering to transient employees • Declining fish productivity, particularly in the • Unsustainable practices in the Songkhla Lake Songkhla Lake Environmental Services and Quality • Threats to water quality • Potential threats from insuªcient e¬uent treatment related to the rubber processing industries. • Potential saline intrusion due to groundwater extraction • Not all of the city’s wastewater is being piped to the wastewater treatment facility. • Septic tank systems do not exist in the old city, and therefore releases are sent directly to the combined collection system. • Erosion along beachfront • Active coastal area – beaches require constant maintenance • Groundwater leaching from landfill • Landfill management practices are inadequate • Fish processing waste are not treated prior to • Lack of enforcement of regulations related to disposal of fish discharge into the sea processing waste Transportation-Related Accessibility • Increasing localized congestion • Increasing number of vehicles and expansion of the urban boundary leading to increasing vehicular trips Low Income Housing • Encroachment along railroad ROW • Due to a shortage of developable land, the abandoned ROW is attractive as a temporary housing solution • Limited access to basic utilities • Access to basic utilities, particularly sewerage, is diªcult in encroached areas. • Vulnerability to flooding • Some of the low-income residents live along the drainage canal and are vulnerable to seasonal flooding. Budget and Financinga • Limited avenues available to the Songkhla • The city is still heavily dependent on the national and provincial Municipality for fund-raising for GrEEEn level government for municipal finances initiatives • Limited experience in reaching out to the private sector for funding a Issues also common in Hat Yai Municipality. Executive Summary ix

Summary of Initiatives, Related Actions and Potential Beneﬁts for Mueang Songkhla

Proposed Initiative/Action Cost Estimates Potential Benefits Initiative : Promote Tourism • Pursue World Heritage City designation USD , Increase tourism, heritage E E E management • Address parking and traªc congestion in Old USD , Improve tourist experience E E Town • Work with private property owners to improve USD million Preserve cultural assets, enhance E E maintenance of historic properties tourism • Prepare a regional tourism strategy to promote USD , Increase tourism opportunities E E complementary assets Initiative : Enhance Land Management • Conduct a land availability assessment to identify USD , Increase land for development E E E underutilized public land • Initiate leasing or transfer of vacant/underutilized USD , °° Increase land for tourism/housing, E E E lands for development of low-income housing reduce pressure on open space and tourism related amenities • Explore redevelopment of slum and low income USD , Enhance livability/reduce E E housing through land readjustment, titling and/or vulnerability for low income residents resettlement • Evaluate e¦ectiveness, including delivery, No estimate Enhance livability for low income E E of housing improvement financing at the residents community level • Greening the city roads USD , Increase green cover in the city E E • Promote urban agriculture No estimate Increase productivity of vacant land E E E • Intensifying green areas USD million Increase recreational and green E E space Initiative : Enhance Environmental Quality • Study to establish the linkage between fishery USD , Reduce risk to livelihoods for low E E E productivity and deteriorating lake quality income population • Expanding “Save fisheries, Save lake” community USD , Increase sustainable use of lake E E campaigns • Groundwater quality monitoring USD , Improve water resource E management • Interventions with the rubber processing USD , Reduce water pollution E E industries • Achieve ± coverage of wastewater collection USD , Improve access to municipal services E E • Install septic tanks, in the Old Town and USD , Reduce risk of water pollution E beachfront areas • Study to strengthen landfill management USD , Reduce risk of pollution E practices • Study to determine solutions for the fish USD , Reduce risk of water pollution, loss of E E processing industrial wastes livelihoods • Conduct pilot epidemiology studies relevant to USD , Reduce public health risks E the transboundary movement of air pollution • Conduct the seasonal monitoring of the Songkhla USD , Improve management of natural E E coastline for the purpose of coastal management asset continued on next page x Executive Summary

Table continued

Proposed Initiative/Action Cost Estimates Potential Benefits Initiative : Pursue innovative financing mechanisms • Establish a structured approach to tap financial USD , Enhance access to private sources E resources from the oil & gas exploration, of funds production and service companies • Develop proposals for central government No estimate Improve access to central E funding for GrEEEn City initiatives government funds

E: Potential Economic Benefits / E: Potential Environmental Benefits / E: Potential Benefits related to Equity

Summary of Key Issues in Hat Yai Municipality

Some of the Key Issues in Hat Yai Contributing Factors Land Use and Land Management System • Increasing pressure on infrastructure • Large-scale redevelopment is taking place in an ad hoc manner, including area roadways across several parts raising demand for services in various neighborhoods and causing of the city traªc congestion by increasing vehicular trips • Rising housing and land prices • Regional and foreign investments in condominium properties is • Pressure to develop open and green space fueling rising land and housing prices, and pushing development • High levels of vulnerability to flooding to the periphery • Hat Yai continues to be extremely prone to flooding and there is growing recognition that the floods cannot be completely eliminated. The city is learning to “live with floods” as an adaptation strategy Economic Assets • Unstructured development of entertainment • Need to manage tourism better due to increasing competition tourism from other destinations • Interest to move away from shady tourism opportunities to • Growing unilaterally with an economic those catering to families and religious tourists that have been development focus without due increasing in number consideration to environmental or equity • Need to explore and become pioneers in environmental-friendly dimensions business practices Environmental Services and Quality • Threats to water quality • Potential threats from insuªcient e¬uent treatment related to the rubber processing industries • Not all of the city’s wastewater is being piped to the wastewater treatment facility • Lack of monitoring of groundwater extraction • Limited space remains in the landfill • Need to plan for future disposal of solid waste in the context of the recently commissioned waste-to-energy plant • About ± of the city is potentially flooded • The city’s location in a large catchment area makes it vulnerable during the rains to flooding • Despite investments in upstream reservoirs and drainage channels, the problem of flooding persists • The city is beginning to explore the option of “living with floods” Transportation-Related Accessibility • Increased localized congestion • Increasing number of vehicles and expansion of the urban boundary • Limited public transportation coverage continued on next page Executive Summary xi

Table continued

Some of the Key Issues in Hat Yai Contributing Factors Low Income Housing • Encroachment along railroad ROW • Due to a shortage of developable land, the abandoned ROW is attractive as a temporary housing solution • Limited access to basic utilities • Access to basic utilities, particularly sewerage, is diªcult in encroached areas. • Vulnerability to flooding • Some of the low-income residents live along the drainage canal and are vulnerable to seasonal flooding. Budget and Financing () • Limited avenues available to the Songkhla • The city is still heavily dependent on the national and provincial Municipality for fund-raising for GrEEEn level government for municipal finances initiatives • Limited experience in reaching out to the private sector for funding

Summary of Initiatives, Related Actions and Potential Beneﬁts for Hat Yai Municipality

Proposed Initiative/Action Cost Estimates Potential Benefits Initiative : Diversify Tourism Opportunities • Prepare a regional tourism strategy to promote Same as Increase tourism opportunities E E complementary assets Songkhla Initiative : Promote Living with Floods while Seeking to Reduce Floods • Study alternatives for flood management and USD , Enhance resilience to flooding E E E avoidance • Cleaning, dredging and beautification of the canal USD , Enhance resilience, expand green E E E area • Continuing the “Living with Floods” initiative USD , Strengthen regional cooperation E E • Develop a ‘flood-proofing’ program to improve USD , Adapt to flooding E E properties that will continue to be flooded Initiative : Enhance Environmental Quality • Identifying the areas of industry, business and USD , Promote environmental and E E E trade to promote GrEEEn considerations social considerations in economic development • Interventions with the rubber processing USD , Reduce water pollution E E industries • Establish third party water quality monitoring USD , Improve water resource E management • Achieving ± coverage of wastewater USD million Improve access to municipal services E E collection • Awareness on waste reduction and segregation USD , Reduce waste stream E E • Study the existing landfill and planning future USD , Improve use of land resources, E land use, and streamlining septage disposal reduce water pollution • Establish an incinerator for bio-medical waste USD , Reduce public health risk E E and hazardous waste • Conducting pilot epidemiology studies relevant Same as Reduce public health risks E to the transboundary movement of air pollution Songkhla continued on next page xii Executive Summary

Table continued

Proposed Initiative/Action Cost Estimates Potential Benefits Initiative : Promote Low Carbon Growth • Reduce transport emissions USD , Climate change mitigation strategy E • Promote energy eªciency in buildings USD , Climate change mitigation strategy E • Promote sustainable consumption USD , Climate change mitigation strategy E E Initiative : Enhance Land Management • Conduct a land availability assessment to identify USD , Promote dense and walkable areas to E E E developable land in the city improve eªciency of infrastructure • Prepare small area plans for strategic sites where USD , Increase land for tourism/housing, E E E the city wants to promote development reduce pressure on open space • Explore redevelopment of slum and low income USD , Enhance livability/reduce E E housing through land readjustment, titling and/or vulnerability for low income residents resettlement • Evaluate e¦ectiveness, including delivery, No estimate Enhance livability for low income E E of housing improvement financing at the residents community level • Intensifying green areas USD , Increase green cover in the city E E • Pilot use of green space to provide economic USD , Increase productivity of green areas E E E value Initiative : Pursue Innovative Financing Mechanisms • Establish a structured approach to tap financial USD , Enhance access to private sources E resources from the oil & gas exploration, of funds production and service companies • Develop proposals for central government No estimate Improve access to central E funding for GrEEEn initiatives government funds • Establish a separate cell/division to raise finances No estimate Enhance access to private sources E from the private sector for GrEEEn City initiatives of funds

E: Potential Economic Benefits / E: Potential Environmental Benefits / E: Potential Benefits related to Equity Introduction

. Background Context

Urban regions are key drivers of economic growth. However, urbanization has also been linked to environmental degradation and social challenges, such as polluted air and contaminated rivers, and rising inequalities. Globally, cities consume nearly percent of total resource use and are responsible for more than percent of Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Responding to these trends, the ADB’s Urban Operational Plan - emphasizes balanced urban development in an e¦ort to promote livable cities across Asia (“cities that are competitive, socially inclusive, and environmentally attractive”). This framework of focusing on the three complementary components of urban development (the three Es: Environment, Economic and Equity) is being operationalized through a GrEEEn City approach.

Drivers for the GCAP

Thailand is an upper-middle income country, member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and the Indonesia– Malaysia–Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT). ADB’s Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) – seeks to provide support for sovereign and non-sovereign projects. Amongst the program areas operationalized to implement the CPS are, “infrastructure development, environmentally sustainable development, and regional cooperation and integration initiatives.”

IMT-GT seeks to enhance sub-regional infrastructure development to support regional economic growth. Within this context, the Leaders of IMT-GT are keen to enhance investments that will promote urbanization in the sub-region to develop competitive, equitable and sustainable development.

The GrEEEn City Action Plan (GCAP) has been prepared for the cities of Songkhla and Hat Yai in Thailand. The Government of Thailand selected these cities that, along with Melaka in Malaysia and Medan in Indonesia, will become role models for sustainable urban development in the IMT-GT sub-region.

Asian Development Bank, . Urban Operational Plan - . Manila. ASEAN countries include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam. GMS countries include Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam. ADB, . Country Partnership Strategy: Thailand. GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

GrEEEn City Approach

GrEEEn Cities is ADB’s new approach to urban development. GrEEEn Cities responds to the challenges of rapid urbanization by integrating urban development with environmental planning to improve livability for urban residents. The approach places emphasis on “doing things di¦erently,” to respond to environmental degradation, ineªcient resource consumption, inequitable growth, and increased risks of climate change and natural disasters. This ﬂexible and scalable approach can be applied at any time in a city’s growth trajectory and at any stage of socioeconomic development.

GrEEEn Cities enable partnerships among local governments, civil society, community residents, the private sector, industry, and small and medium enterprises. These partnerships identify and implement solutions for improving quality of life, increase competitiveness, and manage climate change and natural disasters, without compromising social equity. Figure . illustrates the GrEEEn Cities approach.

The GrEEEn Cities approach provided the framework for preparing the GCAP for Mueang Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipality. Environmental, economic and equity related conditions were assessed to develop an urban profile for the two cities. Key enablers such as national priorities, and partnerships with civil society and the private sector were identified. Additionally, an assessment of the main natural and socio-economic assets, and barriers that constraint each city from maximizing its asset advantage were identified to complete an understanding of “business-as-usual” conditions in Mueang Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities. Consensus on GrEEEn City principles for future development in each city was reached through a stakeholder engagement and visioning process that also became the basis of developing policy recommendations for addressing barriers and building on the asset advantage to enhance livability in the two cities.

Figure .:GrEEEn Cities Operational Framework

ELEMENTS ENABLERS OUTPUTS

Policies GREEN CITY Integrated Urban Development & ACTION PLANS Environment Planning Strategies Investment Sector Plans Program Financing Economic Regulations mechanisms Competitiveness Environment Equity Service Delivery E ciency Natural Resources Inclusive Finance E ciency Infrastructure, O&M Accessible Low Carbon Governance URBAN Financial Innovation Technology Aordable MANAGEMENT Institutions Public Private Dialogue Climate Resilient PARTNERSHIPS Revenue Generation Resilience Civil Society Peer to peer City Livable Business as Usual Business learning Entrepreneurship and Disaster Risk Jobs Management Private Sector Decision Support Systems Analysis and Synthesis Skills Training

Consensus Building, Visioning and Stakeholder Ownership

Source: SERD Working Paper No. , : Enabling GrEEEn Cities: An Operational Framework for Integrated Urban Development in Southeast Asia ( ). Sandhu, Sonia Chand, and Naik Singru, Ramola; SERD Working Paper Series, Asian Development Bank: Manila, . http://www.adb.org/publications/ enabling-greeen-cities-operational-framework-integrated-urban-development-southeast-asia Introduction

. Country, Provincial and City Context

Thailand’s urban population has been increasing rapidly. In , . percent of the population resided in metropolitan areas. This rose quickly to . percent in . The UN estimates that by , nearly percent of Thailand’s population will reside in urban areas. The Eleventh National Economic and Social Development Plan (-) recognizes that despite considerable progress in recent decades, Thai cities continue to face signiﬁcant challenges relating to poor air quality, ﬂooding, or connectivity.

The Plan places importance on the type of cities Thailand wants to promote in the future, stating that, “Eco-cities should be developed that emphasize urban planning and integration of cultural, social and ecological factors.”

Songkhla Province is located in the southeastern part of Thailand (see Figure .). In , the province had a population of nearly . million people, with a Gross Provincial Product (GPP) of , million Baht. Manufacturing is the leading sector (contributing . percent of the GPP), followed by agriculture, hunting and forestry (. percent). Other important sectors include wholesale and retail, ﬁsheries, and tourism. Due to adjacency with Malaysia to the south, border trade is also an important component of the provincial economy.

Mueang Songkhla (Songkhla municipality) is the second largest city in Songkhla Province (after Hat Yai). In , Mueang Songkhla had a population of , residents. Additionally, , temporary or non-registered residents lived in the city.

Hat Yai municipality is the largest city in Songkhla Province (Figure . illustrates the location of Mueang Songkhla and Hat Yai municipalities). In , Hat Yai had a population of , residents. Additionally, approximately , temporary or non-registered residents resided in Hat Yai. The city was also a destination for nearly million annual tourists who came for shopping, entertainment or for enrolling in higher education institutions.

Key Assets and Challenges in Mueang Songkhla

Mueang Songkhla is one of the two leading economic centers in Southern Thailand. It is a port city with ﬁsheries as one of its main industries. The city is also a base for oil and gas companies that are engaged in o¦shore exploration and extraction activities, and ancillary service providers that serve these companies. In addition, Mueang Songkhla is the provincial capital, as well as a center for higher education.

Amongst the city’s key assets include a rich cultural heritage where, architecture from the th century and cultural practices reﬂecting Chinese, Thai and Muslim inﬂuences can still be found in the Old Town Area. Mueang Songkhla also has an extended waterfront. Due to its peninsular shape, the city faces the Gulf of Thailand on one side, and the Songkhla Lake

National Economic and Social Development Board, Thailand. The Eleventh National Economic and Social Development Plan ( - ). . United Nations, Department of Economic and Social A¦airs, Population Division (). World Urbanization Prospects: The Revision, CD-ROM Edition. National Economic and Social Development Board, Thailand. The Eleventh National Economic and Social Development Plan ( - ). . Songkhla Governor’s Oªce. Songkhla Province Information. . Songkhla Province. Songkhla Province GrEEEn City Initiative. Presentation at the IMT-GT Knowledge Workshop in Melaka. April , . Songkhla Province. Songkhla Province GrEEEn City Initiative. Presentation at the IMT-GT Knowledge Workshop in Melaka. April , . GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

on the other. As a result, it has a long beachfront with high tourism potential, and a working waterfront that currently caters to the ﬁshing industries.

Mueang Songkhla is nine square kilometers in size. Most land is either already developed or under government control – for use by the military, universities, or as designated open space. As a result, urban growth is taking place in adjacent jurisdictions, or as redevelopment on the limited available land within the city. Due to the limited availability of developable land, there is considerable pressure to develop green spaces; also, illegal use of land in the form of encroachment can be found in the city.

The Old Town area has considerable potential to become an iconic tourism destination in the region. However, ad hoc demolition and lack of maintenance of private properties threaten the integrity of the heritage resource. Additionally, traªc and parking congestion diminishes the heritage and cultural experience that is attractive to tourists.

Although there is considerable coverage of municipal infrastructure and services, there are still pockets without sewerage, particularly in low income and slum areas. The city also faces the challenge of potential water pollution related to industrial practices in adjacent areas. Being a coastal city, saline intrusion due to groundwater abstraction is also a potential problem for Mueang Songkhla.

Key Assets and Challenges in Hat Yai Municipality

As a center for trade, tourism, transportation and higher education, Hat Yai Municipality is the leading economic center in Southern Thailand. Amongst its assets include: entertainment and shopping amenities that are popular tourist draws, including for Malaysians (the border is km. to the south); an international airport with connectivity to cities within and outside Thailand; active trading center; and, and a service industry related to education, and more recently in health, that brings visitors from the region to Hat Yai.

Seasonal flooding is the single largest problem facing Hat Yai. Due to its location in a geographical bowl that serves as a sink for a large catchment area, water flows to the city from the south, east, and west, on its way to the Songkhla Lake to the north during rainy season. Despite significant investments in infrastructure to manage flooding, the city continues to experience seasonal flooding, with a recent event in killing approximately people and causing millions of dollars of damage. Recognizing that measures to reduce flooding may not be suªcient, the city has been investing in flood warning systems and emergency preparedness, to reduce the risk of disasters from flooding.

Hat Yai and adjacent municipalities have been experiencing rapid population growth. Within Hat Yai, most of the growth has been in the form of large-scale redevelopment. The redevelopment has been taking place in an ad hoc manner, raising demand for infrastructure in various neighborhoods and leading to traªc congestion on several area roadways. The city has also seen considerable investments in condominiums from regional and foreign investors that is fueling an increase in land and housing prices and pushing development to the urban periphery.

Although tourism remains one of the stalwarts of the local economy, there is growing interest among local residents to diversify tourism opportunities. The city has been experiencing an increase in family and religious tourists and is keen to move away from some of the shady Introduction

Figures . and . :Location of Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

Source of Map: Google maps. 6 GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

activities it had been famous for, to explore attractions that may bring more of these groups in the future.

Similar to Mueang Songkhla, there is considerable coverage of municipal infrastructure and services in Hat Yai. However, there are still pockets without sewerage, particularly in low income and slum areas. The city also faces the challenge of potential water pollution related to industrial practices in adjacent areas.

1.3 Purpose and Process to Prepare the GCAP Purpose of the GCAP

The purpose of the GCAP is to derive a common GrEEEn vision for development and to provide recommendations that will put Mueang Songkhla and Hat Yai cities on a path towards becoming GrEEEn Cities.

The GCAP is part of the IMT-GT’s Green Cities Initiative to promote sustainable urban development in the participating regions’ provinces and cities. IMT-GT first supported a similar effort in Melaka, Malaysia. The GCAP Framework Plan (2014) that was prepared for Melaka received considerable support from the state and national level government, including earmarks in the 11th Malaysia Plan to fund some of the proposed recommendations. With support from the Center for IMT-GT Subregional Cooperation (that functions as the secretariat for the IMT‑GT), Melaka has already initiated some of these recommendations.

The GCAP for Mueang Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipality will add to the developing knowledge on the approaches towards pursuing sustainable urban development in the region. Due to their prominence within Southern Thailand and the IMT-GT sub-region, the national government selected Hat Yai and Songkhla to become the pioneer cities under the IMT-GT’s Green Cities Initiative. Additionally, the government also selected the two cities due to the opportunity to build on ongoing local efforts to address aspects ofGrEEEn Cities. In Hat Yai, these efforts relate to enhancing the city’s resilience to urban flooding – the city is a participant in the Rockefeller Foundation supported Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) through which it has already begun implementing resilience related activities.11 In Songkhla, efforts to promote heritage-based tourism have already been initiated by the local government and civic bodies and the GCAP provides an opportunity to support those efforts while also ensuring that potential benefits provide opportunities for all residents, while ensuring that there are minimal impacts on the environment.

The target audience for the GCAP is the IMT-GT, the Thai government, provincial governments and the two municipalities. The ownership of the document will be with the Governor’s office in the provincial government.

11 http://www.acccrn.org/initiatives/thailand/hat-yai [Accessed on November 20, 2014] Introduction

Process to Prepare the GCAP

The process to prepare the GCAP consisted of three main components – data collection and gap analysis, stakeholder engagement, and literature review.

The GCAP area is limited to the municipal boundaries of Mueang Songkhla and Hat Yai. The GCAP was conducted based on primary consultations with stakeholders and secondary technical data. The GCAP is limited to the municipal boundaries of Mueang Songkhla and Hat Yai. These secondary sources include existing government documents and project reports, as well as, ﬁeld observations and interviews with government oªcials and key stakeholders. Through this analysis, the TA team identiﬁed ongoing grEEEn initiatives, as well as gaps in grEEEn development that could be addressed through the Study.

In addition, a stakeholder and visioning workshop was organized in Songkhla and Hat Yai municipalities to substantiate understanding of environmental, economic and equity related conditions in the two cities and to seek consensus on GrEEEn City principles for future development in each city. More details about the stakeholder and visioning workshop are provided later in Sections and of this document.

The authors also conducted a literature review to identify best practices for the GCAP. Previous GCAPs, publications prepared by the ADB and other development agencies, as well as peer-reviewed journals, were amongst the sources used to identify good practices. These have been scoped out as broad potential actions, including implementation mechanisms, which could help Songkhla and Hat Yai initiate activities or build on existing initiatives towards becoming GrEEEn Cities.

The GCAP was prepared primarily over a four-month period (between July and November ). A draft document was circulated for comments at the end of November. The Green City Working Group reviewed the draft at a meeting on February , . NESDB also organized a review meeting on February , where participants from national ministries, Songkhla Province and the Green City Working Group provided comments on the draft document. The GCAP was updated to address the comments that were received. Mueang Songkhla – Urban Proﬁle

. Land Use and Land Management System Current Situation

Songkhla is a coastal city where predominant land uses include mixed-use neighborhoods, universities, public open and green spaces, military housing and oªces, and waterfront uses related to the ﬁsheries industry. Approximately percent of the land is under government control, percent is used for housing and residential areas, percent is for recreational and tourism, and approximately percent is used by industries.

Mueang Songkhla is mostly built out, with limited land available for large-scale development. Within city boundaries, most urban development is occurring in the form of redevelopment of individual properties. New development is predominantly taking place outside the city boundaries, particularly along the Songkhla-Hat Yai access road, where land is more easily available. As a result, there is a growing reverse commute of people who work or study in Songkhla, but live in adjacent areas.

Land use in Mueang Songkhla is guided by multiple level plans, and controlled by several codes as summarized in Table . below.

Table .:Plans and Codes Related to Land Management in Mueang Songkhla

Plan Coverage Brief Description Songkhla Province Province wide • Provides a broad stroke spatial distribution of Comprehensive four types of land uses - community/urban areas, Plan agricultural/rural areas, forest conservation areas, and water bodies Songkhla district Mueang Songkhla and • Currently under preparation level plan adjacent municipalities, • Will provide recommendations on land uses and districts and sub- road alignments districts (‘tambons’) • Will update the Urban Code Urban Code Mueang Songkhla • Speciﬁcally controls land uses and built form • Expired in Municipal Code Mueang Songkhla • Controls all municipal functions and infrastructure including land development • Is currently being used as a substitute to the Urban Code to control land development Old Town Building Old Town Songkhla • Special code to control redevelopment that is Code sensitive to the historic urban fabric in the Old Town Area • Currently under process for adoption Military Aviation Songkhla airport • Controls height and type of development Rule adjacent to airport Mueang Songkhla – Urban Proﬁle

Key Issues

• Pressure to develop open and green space: There is limited developable land within the city. As a result, there is considerable pressure to develop green areas. There is some encroachment, such as bars along the beachfront on university property, and development within a public railroad right-of-way. Local municipal laws prohibit bars from locating adjacent to education facilities. Recently, Songkhla Province has agreed to work with Rajamangala University to relocate the oceanfront bars. • Government uses located in areas with high economic potential: Songkhla has a long coastline that can be harnessed for tourism purposes. E¦orts are already underway to promote nature-based tourism in the protected areas such as the Pine Forest at the northeastern portion of the city. However, opportunities to develop tourist infrastructure such as oceanfront hotels and resorts are limited since most of the land is either protected, or dedicated to government uses. Encroachment by bars on land belonging to the University reﬂects the interest to capture economic value from opportunities presented by tourism. • Expired Urban Code: Songkhla relies on its municipal code to manage land development. The municipal code has limited application compared to the urban code that provides more regulations to control land uses and buildings.

. Enabling Environment Current Situation

Four levels of government institutions, and their respective plans, policies, projects and programs inﬂuence development of Mueang Songkhla. At the highest level, national ministries (with province level departments) are responsible for preparing and implementing capital-intensive projects and programs. At the next level down, the Songkhla Province Government (with the Governor as the head) is responsible for administration and security in the province. The province government also performs planning functions, and undertakes preparation and implementation of projects and programs.

Parallel to the Province Government, the Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) is an elected body that is also responsible for undertaking development activities within the province, focusing particularly on districts, sub-districts (‘tambons’) and villages. Municipal governments, under the leadership of an elected Mayor, govern municipalities, such as Mueang Songkhla. See Figure . on next page.

National government departments, the provincial government, and the municipal government are the three sets of agencies most responsible for development within the boundaries of Mueang Songkhla. The PAO is more inﬂuential outside the city boundary.

In an e¦ort to promote decentralization of government powers and decision-making, Thailand has established a system of local communities at the sub-municipality and sub-district (‘Tambon’) level. Mueang Songkhla is organized into such communities. These communities have elected leadership and a budget for community development activities. Tasks that are handled at the community level can include providing and maintaining basic services such as keeping streets clean, solid waste collection, or promoting small-scale industries to generate employment. Additionally, the communities o¦er a platform for residents to raise concerns and participate in decision-making at the municipal level. GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

Figure .:Thai Bureaucracy System

Cabinet Prime Minister

Central Administration Provincial Administration Local Administration

Ministry Bureau Province Municipality The Prime Provincial Sub-district Minister’s Administrative Administrative Organization Organization Oce District

Department Department Department Sub-District Pattaya City Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Village

Source: Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism. An Overview of Spatial Policies in Asian and European Countries: Thailand. . http://www.mlit.go.jp/kokudokeikaku/ international/spw/general/thailand/index_e.html . [accessed website on July , ]

Key Issues

• The lack of coordination between the di¦erent levels of governments and across municipal boundaries is one of the main challenges to integrated development. To address this concern, the Governor of Songkhla Province has appointed a “Working Group” to manage the GrEEEn City development activities for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities (as discussed in Section of the report). The committee consists of a multidisciplinary team including oªcials from both municipalities, independent experts and representatives from other government departments and Civil Society. • Some communities are more active than others: Even though there is platform to engage in community development activities, participation varies across di¦erent communities. Lack of awareness about the role of the community structure and rights to participate is one of the main factors for low participation in some of the communities.

. Economic Assets Heritage Tourism/Old Town Development

Current Situation

Songkhla is rich in cultural heritage. It ﬁnds mention as a port city in historic records from the s. The city has evidenced multiple cultures over centuries and, today, is a repository of Chinese, Thai and Muslim heritage. Buildings and structures from the th century, such as the present Songkhla National Museum (constructed in ) or portions of the city wall (constructed in the early s), as well as cultural practices from those periods can still be observed in the Old Town. In addition to the Old Town in Mueang Songkhla, there are several historic settlements around the Cape of Songkhla that o¦er potential for linkage through a tourism network.

Jaray Suwannachart. Cultural Landscape Management Plan for Tourism, Case Study of the Songkhla Old Town and its Associations. Thesis submitted as part of PhD Degree Requirements to Silpakorn University, Thailand. . Mueang Songkhla – Urban Proﬁle

The provincial and municipal governments, as well as an active group of residents (Songkhla Heritage Trust), are seeking to transform the area into a tourist destination. The government has started several initiatives including the following:

• Old Town Redevelopment Plan provides a spatial strategy including key interventions for improvements in the Old Town Area; • “Smart Center” Redevelopment Project will establish a visitor center in the Old Town; • A project to bury utilities underground has been initiated along Nakorn Road; • A new small port and warehousing facility has been set up to the south in an e¦ort to relocate fisheries related uses from the Old Town; Old Town Songkhla • A new waterfront park has been proposed at the northern end of the Old Town; • New building code has been drafted and is in the process of being adopted. The code is specific to the Old Town area and addresses retrofitting of heritage properties, as well as new construction.

The Songkhla Heritage Trust is also considering an application to UNESCO to recognize the Old Town area (in conjunction with other portions of the Province that are historically and culturally important) as a World Heritage City.

Key Issues

Lack of maintenance and ad hoc demolition of private properties: Most historic properties are privately owned. Unless there is interest from owners towards preservation, the buildings are either continuing to deteriorate, or in some cases, are being demolished in favor of newer structures.

• Conflict between heritage goals and fisheries related uses: The Old Town lakefront is actively used by the fisheries industry, predominantly as a place to collect supplies before trawlers embark on extended fishing trips. The success of redeveloping Old Town as a cultural amenity is dependent on successful relocation of fisheries uses to areas outside the heritage area. • Trac and parking congestion: The narrow streets in Old Town are from an era when walking was the prevalent mode of mobility. Today, these streets cater to cars, two-wheelers and truck traªc. The high volumes of pass through traªc and parking challenges have led to congestion in the Old Town. GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

• Promulgation of bars and establishments catering to ﬁshing industries: The Old Town has seen a promulgation of bars and establishments that cater to laborers associated with the ﬁshing industry. The laborers are transient employees, often from outside Thailand. These establishments are contrary to the image of a historic and cultural destination that residents are seeking for the Old Town area.

Natural Environment

Current Situation

With its peninsular shape and extended beachfront, Mueang Songkhla o¦ers itself as an excellent location for nature tourism. The green area – including original pine trees and the Songkhla hill – add to the beaches, and makes Songkhla an idyllic location for nature tourism. Additional features, such as the statue of a mermaid on Samila Beach, complement the natural environment.

Due to its scenic geography and easy-access borders to Malaysia, Songkhla Province has become a famous tourist attraction for both Thai and foreign visitors. The tourism contribution to the national and province income is steadily increasing. For instance, in , the reported increase in income from tourism in the province was as high as .±. Mueang Songkhla provided natural amenities that complement well with other destinations, particularly Hat Yai, which is strongly focused on entertainment tourism.

Key Issues

Nature tourism in Songkhla has to be developed in a structured manner. As the city and province look to increase the contribution of nature tourism to the city’s economic development, there is no assurance that the beneﬁts of tourism will be shared equitably within the city’s population. Also, there is no particular e¦ort to ensure that sustainable tourism e.g. with minimal environmental impacts, is currently being practiced in Songkhla.

Fisheries Industry

Current Situation

The fishery sector in Mueang Songkhla is dependent on the Thale Sap Songkhla (Southern Songkhla Lake or Southern Lake), which is about sq.km. in surface area with brackish to salt water. Southern Lake is connected to the Gulf of Thailand at the point where Mueang Songkhla is located, which serves as the entrance to the inland harbor. Southern Lake has always been rich in fishery resources, and fishing is the major occupation. There are two main fishing ports – on Nakorn nok Road and Taoluang Road – in the city. The most economically important species found in Southern Lake are: (a) shrimps (both freshwater and marine species); (b) brackish water fishes (from both capture and culture fisheries) and (c) freshwater fishes. Since the catchment areas of Southern Lake are mostly located in Songkhla Province, the latter‘s economic structure is directly and indirectly related to the natural production system of Southern Lake. Businesses related to fisheries include ice factories, frozen seafood factories, canned fish factories and fishmeal factories.

The fishery production is directly related with the water quality in the Songkhla Lake on the one hand, and the amount of fishing on the other. The water quality is a¦ected by the utilization Mueang Songkhla – Urban Profile

of the lake as a recipient of releases of sewage or e¬uent from communities/ households, industries (rubber and food processing), and agriculture (shrimp farms, pig farms, fish farms, crop farms and rubber plantations). And, the fishing e¦ort is determined both by the extent of fishing and the technology in use. The use of fishing equipment such as fishing nets with smaller mesh sizes and the “Kra Chang” (a basket fastened to a pole) has resulted in reduced marine Fishing vessels in Songkhla Lake biodiversity, and causes a hindrance to marine transportation.

Most people, who live around Southern Lake, especially along the shores, earn their income from fishing. In recent years, it was gathered that because of declines in aquatic catch, many fishermen have been forced to find new occupations. Some have stopped fishing but continue living by the lake, providing boat tours for tourists.

Key Issues

The fishery industry in Songkhla Lake is not well managed, as evidenced by an increase of fishing equipment such as “kra changs”. The large and growing quantity of fishing equipment, is putting shrimps and other aquatic animals at risk of extinction. They also create obstacles to fish moving freely around in the lake, and to marine transportation. The linkage between the importance of conserving the lake in order to protect the fishery sector has not yet been fully recognized.

Oil and Gas Industries

Current Situation

There are oil and gas resources in the Gulf of Thailand. While extraction of these resources is o¦shore, the Songkhla Province and particularly Mueang Songkhla and Singha Nakhorn serve as the onshore base for the oil and gas companies. In addition to companies engaged in extraction, there are companies engaged in exploration and contractors that support these companies in their operations located here. There are three large multinational companies – Coastal Energy Company, Chevron and PTT Group – that are international oil & gas exploration and production companies, which have their operations in the Gulf of Thailand. Many other service companies such as Halliburton support these companies. Although the oil companies do not have bases in Mueang Songkhla, most of the supply companies and aerial services company are based out of the city.

Songkhla is used as a support base to access the o¦shore oil wells. For instance, Chevron has located warehouses, jetties and training facilities in Songkhla. Shell has its marine fuel oil depot near the Songkhla deep-sea port. Further, Chevron has its fuel tank storage and products transfer oªce located in Mueang Songkhla. The Songkhla Airport is also used as a base to transport personnel to the o¦shore rigs. GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

These oil companies and their service companies contribute indirectly to the Mueang Songkhla’s economy through their operations in the city and their employees who are the city’s inhabitants. Professionals enroute to the o¦shore wells also stay in the city and contribute to high occupancy and room rates in local hotels. The companies also provide some support to local area universities for research and training purposes.

Key Issues

Along with Singha Nakorn, Songkhla will continue to be a base for the o¦shore oil & gas operations. Fees for extracting these natural resources goes to the Central Government. There is only an indirect contribution to the economic development of Songkhla. Some of the companies support Songkhla through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) budgets, but these contributions are not made in a coordinated or structured manner, and the community has little inﬂuence in providing input towards the development direction or opportunities that are generated.

. Environmental Services and Quality Water Supply

Current Situation

Water for the Mueang Songkhla is primarily sourced from the Utaphao canal that is ﬂowing from hills in the Sadao province (south) to the Songkhla Lake (north). The abstraction point is upstream of the canal, south of both Hat Yai and Songkhla cities. But the abstraction point is downstream of e¬uent discharges from the rubber processing industries. In its raw form, the water quality is not regarded as ﬁt for consumption. It is recognized as contaminated with oils & grease, organic pollutants, phosphates and manganese. The abstracted water is treated near the source by a public water supply utility, under the control of the national government. The treated water is pumped to a storage station (, cu.m. capacity) in Mueang Songkhla from where it is supplied to the various parts of the city. There is no treatment but water quality is monitored every day prior to the supply. There are instances were deposit formation in the pipeline due to repairs have been traced in the water quality tests and corrective action is taken. There have also been instances of certain chemical pollutants, e.g. ammonia, in the water as these are from the e¬uent releases of the rubber processing industries.

The supply to the city is about , cu.m. per day. But the Mueang Songkhla’s demand is higher, i.e. about , cu.m. per day from the , households. Water supply reaches ± of the city. The shortfall between the demand and supply tends to be made up through groundwater pumping. Groundwater is available at m from the surface. While law does not allow this, it is estimated that ± of the households have groundwater pumping facilities. These are used only to make-up for the shortfall and not on an ongoing basis. There is no information on the quality of the groundwater. The price for water supply is standard across the country, i.e. Baht per cu.m. as the basic rate. The rates increase with consumption as per ranges established by the national government. Mueang Songkhla – Urban Proﬁle

Key Issues

The quality of the water supply is linked to the extent of e¬uents released by the rubber processing industries and the e¦ectiveness of the water supply treatment facility. During the summer season when the water ﬂows in the canals as well as the dilution levels are lower, there is a possibility that the water supply in the city retains the contamination. This would happen if the water supply treatment is not commensurate and hence requires constant monitoring. In addition, groundwater is being tapped as make-up water. As the households are pumping groundwater individually, there is a possibility of contamination through seepage from improper domestic wastewater. Being a coastal city, pumping of groundwater has the potential to cause saline intrusion. This has the potential to contaminate the groundwater aquifer and hence requires constant monitoring.

Domestic Waste Water & Sanitation

Current Situation

Wastewater is collected from households and commercial establishments across the city through a combined system that includes both sewage as well as storm water. About ± of the city is covered in terms of wastewater collection. Altogether, there are seven pumping stations in the city to take the wastewater to the treatment facility, which is situated on the southeast coast of the city and close to the city’s landﬁll. The Songkhla Municipality has purchased the land ( , sq.m.) for this treatment facility and other proposed future initiatives. The treatment facility has a capacity of , cu.m. per day but is presently receiving only about , cu.m. per day from Mueang Songkhla. There is a system of ponds – oxidation, aeration and polishing ponds – in the treatment system. In addition, aerator jets are used if the pollution levels (BOD) is found to be higher. After treatment, the wastewater is pumped and discharged into the sea at a distance of m (with a m slope). During the rains, being a combined wastewater system, the amount of wastewater coming to the treatment plant exceeds capacity of , cu.m. per day. During this time, the dilution levels are higher and larger quantities are discharged into the sea. Being recently implemented (at an investment of US· million), there are no charges levied for the wastewater treatment on the Mueang Songkhla and this is stated in an MOU signed for a -year period.

In terms of septage management, there is enough transport capacity to evacuate the septic tanks. On the average about cu.m./day is the septage that is collected from the city and dumped in the landﬁll. The coverage of septic tanks is almost ± in buildings that were constructed after , when a law was passed to mandate septic tanks. Buildings constructed before are not controlled and don’t have septic tanks. They release their sewage directly into combined sewer system. Public toilets and conveniences are few in Mueang Songkhla. These are only in the beachfront areas. There is ± coverage of toilets in all households and commercial establishments in the city of Songkhla and further public facilities are not required.

Key Issues

The domestic wastewater collection and treatment system has been well streamlined for ± of the city. For the remaining ± of the city, particularly the wastewater collected in the canal bordering the city in the south end, similar arrangements have to be in place. In terms GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

of septage management, the buildings constructed before have been grandfathered in and do not require septic tanks. As these buildings release their sewage directly to the combined system, this issue needs to be addressed. This condition pertains largely to the Old Town and beachfront areas of the city. Improper disposal of septage has the potential to contaminate the groundwater. Considering that groundwater is used as make-up water within the city, this issue needs to be addressed.

Solid Waste (Municipal, hazardous and biomedical)

Current Situation

Solid waste includes municipal, hazardous and biomedical waste. For each of these types of waste, collection is required, and processing and disposal has to be planned and implemented. These wastes are generated both by the registered inhabitants (about , persons) and approximately , students, who are temporary inhabitants of the city. Given the limited area of sq. km., the issue of waste and its management is of vital importance in Mueang Songkhla.

The generation of municipal waste is estimated to be about tons per day that needs to be landﬁlled. Over and above, a certain tonnage per day (estimate not known) is rejects that can be reused or recycled. While no recycling is done in Mueang Songkhla itself, it is transported to Bangkok and other locations for recycling. At the point of generation, there are presently limited e¦orts to promote segregation. This has been initiated as a pilot in a couple of communities. There is also no composting of organic waste being done. In terms of collection, waste is generally collected at night, i.e. between : and :. At other times, collection is done only when there is a need for an urgent solution. The Songkhla Municipality has a ﬂeet of vehicles for the collection of waste and about persons assigned as sta¦ for collection. This includes those for collecting, transporting, cleaning and other related tasks.

All the municipal waste is taken to the landfill, which has been in operation for about years. It is located km away from Songkhla Municipality in Koh-Teaw Sub-district Muang. Altogether, it has about , sq.m. of which, , sq.m. has already been used. The landfill takes waste from other municipalities/organizations as well and is used for disposing tons/day. Here the waste is dumped at a given point, spread, compacted and covered with soil on a daily basis. The remaining , sq.m. available at the landfill, would be suªcient for the next years. In the first few years of operation, the landfill was not lined. Subsequently, it was lined and the leachate was collected. However, the leachate collection and treatment systems are fairly basic and can be improved. There are also about rag pickers who frequent the site, even though the activity is not allowed.

Bio-medical wastes are generated by the two hospitals and seven clinics located in Mueang Songkhla. The two hospitals have their own incinerators, which are used for burning the bio-medical waste. From the clinics, bio-medical waste is collected every Tuesday and Thursday, stored in a centralized location and transported every Friday to the site in Patalung Province for further disposal.

There are collection stations within the city to collect hazardous wastes such as fluorescent lamps and electronic/computer waste. There is a common system of collection, transportation and final disposable that is coordinated at the Province Level and regulated by the Environmental Department at the national level. While this system works reasonably Mueang Songkhla – Urban Profile well, there is no treatment of industrial waste from the fishery processing units, particularly in the Old Town where waste from fish processing industries is disposed into the lake or the sea.

Key Issues

The municipal waste management practices appear to be reasonably well streamlined in terms of collection and transportation. However, the disposal practices are quite basic. It is recognized that the leachate collection and treatment systems have to be improved. Given the proximity to the wastewater treatment system, this can be better streamlined. Bio- medical waste management practices appear to be streamlined as there are incinerators in the two hospitals, and the waste from the clinics is periodically collected, transported and disposed. The other hazardous waste – ﬁsh processing waste – is the major issue as untreated waste is being discharged to the sea/lake.

Air Pollution

Current Situation

There is no only ambient air quality station in Mueang Songkhla. The nearest one is in Hat Yai city, which is clearly in a di¦erent air shed. Given that Hat Yai city is more populated, has a larger density of vehicles and has industries located in close proximity, the pollution levels can serve as a benchmark. Even in Hat Yai city, the Air Quality Index (AQI) ranges between Good and Moderate. Being a coastal and peninsular city, the dispersion of the air pollution in Mueang Songkhla will also be quicker. Therefore, it can be ascertained that the air pollution levels in Songkhla will be better compared to Hat Yai. It is only during the period of forest ﬁres in Indonesia that the air quality levels in the city could drop to dangerous levels.

Key Issues

Presently, there appears to be no air pollution problem due to the activities within the city. The only major air pollution problem is the trans boundary movement of air pollutants due to the forest ﬁres. This is beyond the ability of the city’s municipality to control and is a national level problem.

Protecting the natural assets (coastal pine trees and beaches)

Current Situation

Mueang Songkhla is lined with beaches such as Samila and Son Awn. These are the ﬂagship natural assets of the Mueang Songkhla peninsula that is well known for its white sandy beach and shady pine groves. The beaches o¦er a nice, peaceful area to stroll along and are a popular picnic location for local residents. Many facilities and decorative elements such as statues, sidewalks and pavilions have been added to enhance this place as the main attraction of Songkhla.

Beaches in Songkhla, similar to other coastal areas of Thailand, face the constant problem of beach erosion. There are several reasons for erosion, including: () Climate conditions (temperature, transpiration, precipitation and evaporation); () coastal processes (waves, shore currents, tides, winds, storms and river discharges); ( ) sediment (accretion and deposition); () relative sea level (tectonic subsidence, sea level change); and, () human GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

activities (coastal structures, beach maintenance, dredging). A survey of the Songkhla coastline conducted since evidently reveals the loss of sand along the shore. Research studies indicate that the naturally shaped straight shoreline is in equilibrium between the sand transport and the deposits of sand on the beach. However, the coastline is sensitive to any disturbance along the coast.

Key Issues

There has been sand accretion/ deposition at the tip where the pine tree plantations are located, and erosion at another stretch of the Songkhla beach. To address this sea erosion, hard engineering and soft engineering solutions have been considered. Hard engineering solutions such as construction of sea walls, breakwaters, groin and gabions were considered. And, soft engineering or stabilization solutions such as beach Songkhla’s beachfront nourishment, planting vegetation, having stabilizing dunes and growing corals were considered. The city has adopted the soft engineering solution of beach nourishment to preserve the beaches, even though this is relatively expensive and has to be repeated periodically.

Green Spaces

Current Situation

Out of the sq.km. of the city area, . sq.km. consist of green spaces. Given that most of the city is built out or under dedicated land uses, there is little scope for expanding the green spaces. These green spaces are protected by law, which is strictly enforced by the Songkhla Municipality. For instance, tree cutting is prohibited. However, none of the green spaces are designated as ecologically sensitive areas that warrant national protection.

Mueang Songkhla receives funds from the o¦shore oil companies, Chevron and PTTEP, for maintaining and enhancing the green spaces in the city.

Key Issues

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum of sq.m. of green space per person in an urban area. Mueang Songkhla, which has a population of ,, meets this norm. However, the WHO recommendation of percent of the city’s area to be green spaces will not be met. This works out to be about . sq. km, which twice the area that the city presently has allocated for green spaces. Given that there is also a large student population to the city, the green spaces in area terms are less than optimal. However, the city does not have further land to convert its land use for green spaces. Mueang Songkhla – Urban Proﬁle

Additionally, improvements in the existing green spaces (such as an assortment of erosion control measures on Chalatat Beach) are often not integrated with tourism goals and can a¦ect the aesthetic quality of these resources.

. Transportation-Related Accessibility

Current Situation

Mueang Songkhla is served by several modes of transportation including personal automobiles and two-wheelers, songtaews (modiﬁed pick-up trucks) and tuk-tuks. Public buses and vans connect the city to other municipalities including Hat Yai in the region, adjacent municipalities, tambons and villages. Privately operated songtaews, tuk-tuks, motorcycles and tricycles operate within the city. These are relatively low cost options, and provide service from am to am. Minibuses typically cost baht per trip, while a songtaew/tuk-tuk ride can cost between and baht. Students get a discounted rate of baht per trip.

People also use personal automobiles and two-wheelers including motorcycles, scooters and electric bicycles, to travel within and around Songkhla. Some people travel daily from Songkhla to Hat Yai for work or education. Others live in adjacent communities and commute to Songkhla for employment, or for attending schools and colleges.

The municipal government operates four trams to promote tourism in the city. These trams operate six times a day and connect various tourist destinations across Songkhla. The trams are provided as a free service in an e¦ort to encourage tourists to use public transportation. There is one dedicated bicycle-lane that primarily caters to recreational users. Otherwise, bicycles are not a popular mode of transportation to travel around the city.

A new regional bus station is planned at the southwestern end of Songkhla. A new regional road accessing the station is also planned and is expected to improve regional connectivity.

Key Issues

• Increasing localized congestion: Although accessibility to jobs, schools, commercial facilities or social amenities was not raised as an issue during stakeholder consultations, there are several hotspots where localized traªc congestion is a problem. These include roads adjacent to schools that get congested during school drop-o¦ and pick-up times, and key intersections such as Nam Kra Jai intersection on the access road between Songkhla and Hat Yai. Regional connectivity is not a serious challenge yet, but can worsen if tourism becomes a dominant industry in Songkhla. • Encroachment along the existing rail right-of-way: A new rail service is being considered between Songkhla and Ha Yai. The alignment for the rail is along an abandoned public right-of-way that belongs to the State Railway of Thailand. Although under public ownership, portions of the ROW have been encroached upon for low-income housing and other uses. GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

. Low Income Housing

Current Situation

The Songkhla municipal government has identified that out of communities contain significant poor or slum housing that is located on encroached land. These include housing on railroad ROW, and along waterways and canal areas (see Figure .). In , the government identified that a total of , households (out of a total of , household living in the communities) live in these poor or slum areas.

Key Issues

• Limited access to basic utilities: Even though most of the poor and slum area are permanent in nature, access to utilities (particularly sewerage infrastructure) is limited in these communities. • Flooding: Lack of adequate drainage and location along waterways and canal areas can lead to localized ﬂooding during rain events, and from high tide in Songkhla Lake.

Figure .:Location of Low Income/Slum Housing in Songkhla

Communities located along with train way

Bon Wour Kao Ban Bon Ghu Bo Mit Muang Lung

Rom Jai Pattana Hua Pomp Som Wang Panich Sum Rong

Lang Archewa Sala Hua Yang Paradon Sala Luang

Source: Mueang Songkhla. Mueang Songkhla – Urban Proﬁle

. Budgeting and Financial Resources

The main revenue for the Songkhla municipality are taxation, fees and ﬁnes, income from local property, municipal ownership, local subsidy, loans from the central ministry, bonds and other miscellaneous incomes. The main expenditure of Mueang Songkhla can be divided into two categories: () Federal budget, which is the ﬁxed expense for general events in the municipality such as repayment of debt and interest, disbursement and general expense, and () Municipality sector expense that includes expenditure in each sectors of the municipality. This can be further divided into two categories that are (a) expenditures such as salary, hiring expenses, facility expenses and other related expenses, and (b) investment on land, asset and construction.

Key Issues

The key issue is that there is no separate budget available to the Songkhla municipality for initiating new GrEEEn City initiatives. There is also little scope for increasing the revenue inflow in order to make specific interventions through GrEEEn City initiatives. Therefore, the capital investments required for GrEEEn City initiatives should be raised through central government budgets that may be from Government or multilateral development agencies, and private sources of funding such as through CSR programs of oil companies and fish processing industries.

. Summary of Key Issues and Analysis

The key issues and analysis discussed in this Chapter are summarized in Table . below and form the basis for the SWOT analysis that was conducted (discussed under Chapter ) and the initiatives identiﬁed (in Chapters and ) to set Mueang Songkhla on a path to become a GrEEEn City.

Table .:Summary of Key Issues and Analysis from a GrEEEn City Perspective in Mueang Songkhla

Key Issues Analysisa Land Use and Land Management System • Considerable pressure to develop green • Small size of the city and limited lands available for areas development • Encroachment along beachfront and public • Government occupies more than percent of all land, railroad ROW. Low-income housing and limiting availability for other purposes including low facilities (such as bars) aimed at tourists income housing and tourism facilities are among the illegal uses that have encroached upon public lands. Enabling Environment • Lack of coordination between di¦erent • National decentralization law has pushed levels of government and across municipal decision-making to the local and provincial governments. boundaries These governments have limited ﬁnancial and human resources to address and manage multisectoral and multi-jurisdictional issues. continued on next page GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

Table .continued

Key Issues Analysisa Economic Assets Songkhla Old Town Songkhla Old Town • Risk of loss of heritage and cultural • Lack of maintenance and ad hoc demolition of private experience properties • Conﬂicts between heritage goals and • Traªc and parking congestion ﬁsheries related uses • Bars and other establishments catering to transient employees

Natural Environment Natural Environment • Risk of loss of natural environment • Pressure to develop open space • Lack of appropriate practices to manage natural environment

Fisheries Industry Fisheries Industry • Declining productivity, particularly in the • Unsustainable practices in the Songkhla Lake Songkhla Lake

Oil and Gas Industry Oil and Gas Industry • Varying beneﬁts to the city • Lack of coordinated strategy to approach industry for CSR related beneﬁts Environmental Services and Quality Water Supply and Wastewater Water Supply and Wastewater • Threats to water quality • Potential threats from insuªcient e¬uent treatment related to the rubber processing industries. • Potential saline intrusion due to groundwater extraction • Not all of the city’s wastewater is being piped to the wastewater treatment facility. • Septic tank systems do not exist in the old city, and therefore releases are sent directly to the combined collection system.

Solid Waste Solid Waste • Groundwater leaching from landfill • Landfill management practices are inadequate • Fish processing waste are not treated prior to • Lack of enforcement of regulations related to disposal of discharge into the sea fish processing waste

Air Pollution Air Pollution • Seasonal poor air quality • Transboundary movement of pollutants related to forest ﬁres in neighboring countries.

Protecting the Natural Assets Protecting the Natural Assets • Sea erosion is occurring in selected stretches • Technical solutions are still inadequate of the Songkhla beach.

Green Spaces Green Spaces • Limited area available in the city to increase • Small size of the city and a considerable portion green spaces dedicated to governmental uses puts development pressure on remaining vacant areas continued on next page Mueang Songkhla – Urban Proﬁle

Table .continued

Key Issues Analysisa Transportation-Related Accessibility Increasing localized congestion • Increasing number of vehicles and expansion of the • Encroachment along public railroad urban boundary leading to increasing vehicular trips ROW limits opportunities for future rail • Due to a shortage of developable land in Songkhla, the connection between Songkhla and Hat Yai abandoned ROW is attractive. Future use of the ROW for a rail connection is contingent upon taking the land back. Economic Assets Songkhla Old Town Songkhla Old Town • Risk of loss of heritage and cultural • Lack of maintenance and ad hoc demolition of private experience properties • Conﬂicts between heritage goals and • Traªc and parking congestion ﬁsheries related uses • Bars and other establishments catering to transient employees

Natural Environment Natural Environment • Risk of loss of natural environment • Pressure to develop open space • Lack of appropriate practices to manage natural environment

Fisheries Industry Fisheries Industry • Declining productivity, particularly in the • Unsustainable practices in the Songkhla Lake Songkhla Lake

Air Pollution Air Pollution • Seasonal poor air quality • Transboundary movement of pollutants related to forest ﬁres in neighboring countries.

Protecting the Natural Assets Protecting the Natural Assets • Sea erosion is occurring in selected stretches • Technical solutions are still inadequate of the Songkhla beach. continued on next page GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

Table .continued

Key Issues Analysisa Green Spaces Green Spaces • Limited area available in the city to increase • Small size of the city and a considerable portion green spaces dedicated to governmental uses puts development pressure on remaining vacant areas Transportation-Related Accessibility • Increasing localized congestion • Increasing number of vehicles and expansion of the • Encroachment along public railroad urban boundary leading to increasing vehicular trips ROW limits opportunities for future rail • Due to a shortage of developable land in Songkhla, the connection between Songkhla and Hat Yai abandoned ROW is attractive. Future use of the ROW for a rail connection is contingent upon taking the land back. Low Income Housing • Encroachment along railroad ROW • There is a preference to live close to Songkhla since it • Limited access to basic utilities is one of the centers for employment in the region. Due • Vulnerability to flooding to a shortage of developable land, the abandoned ROW is attractive as a temporary housing solution for low- income residents. • Access to basic utilities, particularly sewerage, is diªcult in encroached areas. • Some of the low-income residents live along the drainage canal and are vulnerable to seasonal flooding. Budget and Financial Resources • Limited avenues available to the Songkhla • The city is still heavily dependent on the national and Municipality for fund-raising for GrEEEn provincial level government for municipal finances initiatives • Limited experience in reaching out to the private sector for funding

a The analysis is based on secondary sources and a preliminary assessment of issues that was possible within the timeframe and resources available to conduct the GCAP. Mueang Songkhla’s Vision for a GrEEEn City

. Stakeholder Workshop

A stakeholder and visioning workshop was held in Songkhla on August , . The primary purposes of the workshop were:

• To inform participants about the GrEEEn City Action Plan; • To establish common vision for a GrEEEn City; • To conduct a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis (SWOT analysis) to establish the critical issues and challenges faced by the city; and • To discuss potential institutional mechanisms that should be established to implement recommendations emerging from the Scoping Studies.

Approximately guests participated in the workshop. The stakeholders represented city leaders, civil society, government departments, business community, and interested residents.

Workshop Format

The workshop began with opening remarks by Songkhla’s Mayor who voiced his support for the GCAP. Representatives from the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) and the Center for Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Subregional Cooperation (CIMT) voiced their commitments and highlighted the importance of the GCAP in setting the path towards sustainable urban development in Songkhla. They also emphasized that Songkhla and Hat Yai will serve as models that may be replicated in other cities across Thailand and in the IMT-GT region.

Stakeholder consultations at the workshop in Songkhla

GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

Figure .:Mapping of Vision Statements Received from Participants at the Stakeholder Workshop in Mueang Songkhla What you want to your city to be in years? Livability and happy people living in sustainable environment

Natural Food High quality Smiling City resources and management of service Coverage, Environment Accessibility planning Water supply Clean Canal and wasterwater Good treatment sanitation Clean beach development Good standard fresh green of life safe eco-friendly Landscape Tourism Clean, safe, clean nice healthy, Learning Improved and Livable city modern Fisheries sector quality of life peaceful organized convenient in well- friendly order developed Public Competitive Space economy Landscape Land use Good planning More recreation transport Less trac congestion areas

More spaces Pedestrian No trac jams Flexible pathways for children Good for Bike Lanes infrastructure elderly

The ADB TA team then gave a presentation to introduce the participants to the GrEEEn Cities concept and to provide an overview of the scoping studies and expected outcomes. The team also discussed other GCAP experiences including the ﬁrst one that was prepared in the IMT-GT region for Melaka in Malaysia. Oªcials from Mueang Songkhla then presented their perspective and ongoing projects related to sustainable urban development in the city.

The presentations by the ADB TA team, and local government oªcials served as awareness raising materials that introduced participants to grEEEn concepts and ongoing city initiatives that served as the basis for discussions during the visioning exercise and SWOT analysis that followed.

. Vision for a GrEEEn City

“A GrEEEn City puts people ﬁrst, with a holistic view of development, growth, and access to services and opportunities for employment. This vision requires strong consensus amongst stakeholders for the city to achieve its GrEEEn goals and objectives. Visioning is the process of building alignment and consensus on “GrEEEn principles” and strategic development priorities at the city level. It helps evaluate the challenges and opportunities for urban Mueang Songkhla’s Vision for a GrEEEn City development in the context of the GrEEEn Cities Operational Framework, and is conducted as part of the diagnostic assessments to generate the urban proﬁle.”

The participants were asked the question: “What do you want your city to be in § years?” and post their responses anonymously on meta-cards. Their responses were mapped to identify common themes (see Figure .). These common themes included emphasis on high quality services, tourism, no trac jams, ﬂood management, natural resources and environmental planning, a smiling city, and ﬁsheries sector. The ADB TA team developed a vision statement from the common themes – which was then agreed upon by the participants.

. SWOT Analysis

The SWOT analysis was conducted through facilitated group discussions. The participants were asked to separate into three groups – one focusing on economic aspects, one on environmental, and one on equity/inclusiveness. The TA team then facilitated discussions related to the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in each group. At the end of the discussions, each group provided a summary to the entire group of participants.

Key points that emerged from the SWOT Analysis in Songkhla include the following:

• Songkhla’s natural environment and peninsular location, as well as diversity of races, religion and cultures are unique assets. There is considerable interest to develop tourism related to these assets. • The community is engaged in governance on particular issues; e.g. the Songkhla Heritage Trust is actively involved in the revitalization and conservation e¦orts in the Old Town. • Foreign labor working in the ﬁshing industry is a cause of social concern. • There are some ongoing GrEEEn projects including a bike lane, and waste recycling with interest to pursue ecotourism. • Songkhla is a center for education and government. • Development pressures threaten the long-term preservation of open spaces. • Large portion of the land in Songkhla is under government control; as a result, there is limited space for expansion and private land tends to become more expensive. • Beach erosion is a challenge. • Presence of oil and gas companies and o¦shore ﬁelds provides opportunities for employment/worker development programs. • Songkhla is heavily reliant on the national government for city development.

This chapter identiﬁes key initiatives and actions that can support Songkhla towards becoming a more livable city. The initiatives and actions are based on an assessment of current challenges and gaps (as discussed in Chapter ), as well as the SWOT analysis and visioning that were conducted for Songkhla (as discussed in Chapter ). In some cases, the initiatives and actions build on existing or planned e¦orts in Songkhla; in others, they are based on an understanding of global best practices related to improvements in environmental quality, economic opportunities and inclusive growth, in urban areas.

Sandhu, S; and Naik Singru, R. . Enabling GrEEEn Cities: An Operational Framework, Working Paper Series. Southeast Asia Department. Asian Development Bank. Manila. Scoping GrEEEn Initiatives for Mueang Songkhla

. Initiative : Promote Tourism in Songkhla

Songkhla should continue to actively promote tourism in an e¦ort to become a GrEEEn City that o¦ers economic opportunities to all residents. The city is blessed with natural and cultural assets that can be harnessed to enhance tourism. Further, Songkhla’s unique assets are a complement to the tourism amenities available in the region, particularly Hat Yai, which is a popular shopping and entertainment destination.

Action ..: Pursue World Heritage City designation

The UNESCO World Heritage City program is speciﬁcally aimed at protecting and managing urban heritage. Through the program, cities receive beneﬁts including technical assistance towards managing heritage areas. Although the selection process is competitive, the designation provides immediate global recognition that can be harnessed for tourism purposes.

The Songkhla Heritage Trust has already begun collecting information and plans to submit a joint application with other heritage communities along the Songkhla Bay area. This e¦ort should be promoted without delay, for purposes including to minimize future demolition of historic properties, and to start beneﬁting from potential tourism boost that may accompany the designation.

Action ..: Address parking and trac congestion in Old Town

The city should prepare a transportation management plan (TMP) that is speciﬁc to the Old Town area. The The US Embassy in Bangkok plan should consider the following: has a special fund towards preservation of cultural • Parking lots and a parking garage: Rather that heritage. Songkhla should consider applying to receive encouraging cars to park on street, the city funds to prepare the should evaluate the feasibility of creating nomination form for the World parking lots at strategic locations in the Old Heritage City program. See Town area. In the area, where parking may be details about the Ambassadors most needed, the city should also evaluate Fund for Cultural Preservation the feasibility of constructing a parking garage. on the following website: The visual quality of the open lots and garage http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/ should be complementary to the historic afcp.html [Accessed Nov quality of the Old Town. , ]

http://whc.unesco.org/en/cities/ Scoping GrEEEn Initiatives for Mueang Songkhla

• Pedestrianization of portions of the heritage area: The city should consider restricting traªc on some of the roads in Old Town area. The restriction could be for short durations and on speciﬁc days during peak tourist times, to promote a walkable environment. • Tourist route through the Old Town: Songkhla has already identiﬁed a tourist route that connects various cultural and historic sites. The city should encourage visitors to leave their vehicles at a centralized location and promote the use public transportation such as the tram system on this route. The city could also consider adding smaller electric buses on this route.

Action ..: Work with private property owners to improve maintenance of historic properties

In an e¦ort to safeguard that modiﬁcations and new constructions are appropriate to the historic character, the city has already prepared a Building Code that is speciﬁc to the Old Town area. The city should work with private property owners to establish a program of incentives that encourages maintenance and renovations according to the code.

Some of the incentives could include:

• Providing free technical advice to property owners and training to the building industry on how to maintain and renovate historic properties; • Subsidizing some of the improvement costs, particularly if the costs are higher when compared to regular repairs; • Recognizing owners who improve properties in adhere to the code; • The city could also consider setting up a low interest, revolving loan, to encourage property owners to improve their property.

Action ..: Prepare a regional tourism strategy to promote complementary assets

The Provincial Government should prepare a regional tourism strategy that takes advantages of the complementary assets o¦ered in the region (see text box and weblink for example from Winnipeg). The strategy should explore the feasibility of packaging shopping and entertainment opportunities o¦ered in Hat Yai with the opportunities for cultural and

Winnipeg in Canada prepared a Master Tourism Plan that provides a long-term strategy to increase and manage tourism in the city. The plan addresses development of programs and products aimed at increasing the city’s appeal to a diverse audience, as well as building its sales and servicing sector to ensure that visitors are provided a quality experience.

For details of the plan, refer to the following link [accessed Nov , ]: http://www. tourismwinnipeg.com/about-tourismwinnipeg/master-tourism-plan GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

natural tourism o¦ered in Mueang Songkhla. Additionally, the government should explore the following in the strategy:

• Feasibility of establishing broad-based nature tourism – The economic beneﬁts of tourism should preferably be inclusive, i.e. should reach all the city’s inhabitants. In this regard, the citizens can be engaged through o¦ering accommodation and serving food to the visiting population. Accommodation can be through home-stay arrangements so that the cities are accessible to tourists across a range of budgets, and also through boutique restaurants that serve the locally cooked food. Songkhla is already renowned for its outstanding seafood, which can be enhanced with diverse home-cooked versions from Chinese, Malay, and Thai households. This will further enhance the economic competitiveness of tourism, while supporting inclusive growth. • Promoting environmentally friendly tourism – Nature tourism brings economic beneﬁts but also a range of environmental impacts. During periods when tourism is at its peak, the city’s assets – particularly, waste management – are stretched. At present, there are no environmental initiatives related to pollution associated with tourism. To give a particular example, banning the use of plastic shopping bags will reduce non-biodegradable material from the waste stream. Such action will convey an important message to tourists – that the region is focused on environmental responsibility – while also reducing costs of environmental management. The government should assess the feasibility of ushering environment friendly tourism in the region.

. Initiative : Enhance Land Management

Several of Songkhla’s challenges stem from the shortage of developable land. The city is small in size (. sq. km.), is mostly built out, and more than percent of the land is under government control. As a result, opportunities for large-scale development are limited and there is considerable pressure to develop environmentally sensitive areas or encroach on land illegally. With help of the national and provincial government, the city should explore whether there are pockets of underutilized public lands that can be released for private development (see text box below). Ensure that any land that is released does not contain any environmentally sensitive resources or is currently used as a park.

Action ..: Conduct a land availability assessment to identify underutilized public land

Undertake a land availability assessment of all lands that are currently under government control. Identify areas that are vacant or underutilized. These may include lands that may

The World Bank recommends that one of the actions that a national government can take to reduce urban poverty is to “Transfer/sell unoccupied government land (treasury land) to local authorities…”

Source [accessed Nov , ]: http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/ EXTURBANDEVELOPMENT/EXTURBANPOVERTY/,,contentMDK: ~menuPK: ~pagePK:~piPK:~theSitePK: ~isCURL:Y,.html Scoping GrEEEn Initiatives for Mueang Songkhla have been reserved for planned projects but that may no longer be needed. As part of the assessment, identify lands that may be suitable for tourism, as well as lands that could accommodate low-income housing. Based on the assessment, prepare a list of available properties (areas).

Action ..: Initiate leasing or transfer of vacant/underutilized lands for development of low-income housing and tourism related amenities

The city should initiate negotiations with the national and provincial government for the use of the vacant or underutilized lands. The use could be through transfer of the land to the city or through a long-term leasing arrangement. Based on the land availability assessment, Songkhla should prioritize properties that may be developable immediately. These may include areas that are already served by municipal infrastructure, or areas with high economic value. Properties that are of high economic value (such as beachfront property that may be a good site for a hotel or a resort) should be o¦ered for development to the private sector, preferably through a public auction mechanism. Part of the proceeds from the auction could be applied towards development of low-income housing.

Action ..: Explore redevelopment of slum and low income housing through land readjustment, titling and/or resettlement

The city should undertake an evaluation to determine whether slum or poor housing areas can be upgraded, or whether the city needs to pursue resettlement activities (see example from Brazil in the text box below). Based on the evaluation, the city could consider several options such as:

Resettling Informal Settlements (Brazil) The Social and Environmental Program for the Creeks of Manaus (PROSAMIM), Brazil provides an example for resettling informal settlements along creeks in an e¦ort to improve drainage and reduce risks to residents. The program was initiated in and supported by the Inter- American Development Bank. Several resettlement options were o¦ered to provide choices to residents:

• A new house – New houses were built on land in nearby areas with good access to existing infrastructure and urban services. • Housing voucher – A government voucher of US·, was given to households for supervised resettlement into houses for sale in the local and regional market. • Housing complex – Displaced households were o¦ered homes in the state or municipal social housing programs. • Compensation – Cash compensation was given to those households who were able to resettle independently.

Approximately , households took part in the program with nearly / rd selecting compensation, another third selecting housing voucher, and the remainder selected relocating to a housing complex or a new house.

Source: Building Cities – Neighbourhood Upgrading and Urban Quality of Life. Edited by Eduardo Rojas. Published by the Inter-American Development Bank, GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

(a) Relocate households living in ﬂood prone areas – the city could relocate the households to vacant or underutilized public land that it may receive from the national government; (b) Provide tenure to households that have encroached on public lands that are free from hazard risks and environmentally sensitive resources, and particularly if the land is not needed for other public functions; and/or (c) Undertake upgrading of slum areas through land readjustment to extend services such as sewerage to these areas.

For example, a signiﬁcant portion of the slum and poor housing in Songkhla is located on or along the abandoned railroad ROW. This ROW is being considered as a possible route for a rail connection between Songkhla and Hat Yai. If the rail project proceeds, the city will have to address resettlement of existing housing. Alternatively, if the rail project is not taken forward, the city could explore acquiring development rights from the national government and transferring them to the households occupying the ROW.

Action ..: Evaluate e«ectiveness, including delivery, of housing improvement ﬁnancing at the community level

The government currently has a community development program to provide housing improvement ﬁnancing to individual households. Evaluate the e¦ectiveness of this program to see if it could be used to facilitate upgrading of larger slum and poor household areas. The city could consider setting up a special urban upgrading fund and promoting competition between di¦erent communities for receiving the special funds.

Action ..: Greening the city roads

Given its limited size, and other land constraints, open and green space is a premium in Songkhla. The city should undertake a greening program focused speciﬁcally on adding trees along its main roads. Since some trees are better suited for stressful environments such as along roads, the city should engage a horticulture specialist to provide a recommended list of indigenous species and to identify locations along streets where trees could thrive. The city should adopt a policy of adding street trees along all major roads and dedicate special funds towards planting drives and maintenance of existing street trees. Additionally, the city should promote programs such as “adopt-a-road” to encourage private participation in the greening of streets.

Action ..: Promote urban agriculture

Based on the land availability assessment, the city should identify public areas that will remain underutilized or vacant in the immediate future. The city should promote the temporary use of these areas for urban agriculture. This will allow the land to be used productively, and will help to reduce emissions related to transporting agricultural produce from neighboring area. This should be implemented at the community level and may provide an additional source of income for households.

Action ..: Intensify green areas

Particular areas have already been identiﬁed for enhancing the green cover. These include the following: () Kao-San Intersection Rehabilitation (opposite to Songkhla Rajanagarindra Psychiatric Hospital), () Old tank farm, Ta-lae-lung road Rehabilitation and ( ) th Scoping GrEEEn Initiatives for Mueang Songkhla

Anniversary King Bhumiboladulyadej Park landscaping. Preliminary budgets are already available and the projects are awaiting execution.

. Initiative : Enhance Environmental Quality Action ..: Study to establish the linkage between ﬁshery productivity and deteriorating lake quality

Estimates indicate that the fishery productivity is progressively deteriorating. However, there are no mechanisms to study the linkages on an ongoing basis. Unless carefully monitored, this activity will not be managed. With support of organizations such as the National Institute of Coastal Aquaculture, the correlation/causation of the decline of fishery productivity with the deteriorating quality of the Songkhla Lake should be established. Using the outputs of this study, the subject of sustainable fisheries should be initiated and progressively practiced.

Action ..: Expanding “Save ﬁsheries, Save lake” community campaigns

The economic development of the fisheries is being a¦ected due to the unsustainable practices, e.g. release of untreated e¬uents, associated with the lake. Initiatives to improve the fisheries productivity cannot be done without the cooperation of all the stakeholders. There are already e¦orts to replenish the crab population in the lake (see text box). But the issue needs to be collectively addressed, and cannot be responsibility of individuals alone. Songkhla should work with other lake communities to promote a community campaign aimed at expanding sustainable fisheries practices in the lake.

Action ..: Groundwater quality monitoring

More than ± of the demand is presently being met by the surface water sources. For the balance ±, groundwater is being used as a make-up source. Being on the coast, there is a concern that the groundwater aquifer will get contaminated with indiscriminate abstraction. Though this may not be a big issue presently, constant groundwater monitoring is required. Songkhla Municipality should coordinate with the Department A long-term resident of the area who is of Mineral Resources to identify concerned with declining volumes in the groundwater wells across the city Songkhla Lake has set up a crab hatchery. She has and determine the quality of the received support from PTTEP, an oil exploration groundwater periodically. Physical, and production company, and has set up chemical and biological parameters programs to introduce the concept of sustainable should be monitored. ﬁshing practices to the local ﬁshing community and school residents. GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

Action ..: Interventions with the rubber processing industries

Considering the importance of the U-Tapao Canal for all the cites north of Songkhla Lake, the Songkhla Municipality should coordinate with the Provincial Waterworks Authority to proactively approach the rubber processing industries and establish a forum of engagement along with the other Municipalities. The purpose of this forum will be to determine ways of ensuring that the e¬uent discharged by these industries is fully treated, and brought up to standards to address the water quality problem at the source itself.

Action ..: Achieve §§¬ coverage of wastewater collection

The city should establish a target of providing ± coverage of wastewater collection. The canal that borders the city in the south-end will have to be connected to the wastewater collection system. This is presently receiving wastewater both from the Mueang Songkhla and the neighboring city in the south. As there is excess capacity in the wastewater treatment plant, there should be no problem in treating the wastewater from the remaining ± of the city’s area. To begin with, a feasibility study should be prepared to determine the issues related to expanding the collection network and adding pumping stations.

Action ..: Installing septic tanks, particularly in the Old Town and beachfront areas

An incentive scheme for installing septic tanks in the pre- buildings is being planned as part of a -year strategy. This intervention is required to ensure that untreated sewage doesn’t enter the combined wastewater collection system. At the ﬁrst instance, a comprehensive survey needs to be done to determine how many households/establishments require the septic tanks, and what kind of incentives will encourage them to install these tanks. A survey and pre-feasibility study needs to be prepared.

Action ..: Study to strengthen the landﬁll management practices

Present management practices are not environmentally sustainable and a study is required to determine how the landfill can be better managed. The study should consider the following aspects: () The landfill has been in use for the last years. As the management practices, particularly in the initial years were insuªcient, the possibility of groundwater contamination, particularly heavy metals, due to the leachate should be analyzed; () As the landfill has not adopted sophisticated practices, there is also a possibility of methane being entrapped in the dump yard. Methane emissions have a greenhouse gas potential that is times more potent than carbon dioxide. If any methane is present, it needs to be captured and potentially used as a resource; and ( ) the completed sections of the landfill should to be landscaped so that a possible alternative land use, e.g. a park, can be considered.

Action ..: Study to determine solutions for the ﬁsh processing industrial wastes

Mueang Songkhla needs to dispose its ﬁsh processing waste in an environmentally responsible manner. The present practice of dumping untreated wastes into the sea or lake is a cause for concern. As there are a number of such industries, a collective solution needs to be developed. A preliminary feasibility study should be prepared to examine possible solutions, and identify next steps, including investments in waste management. Scoping GrEEEn Initiatives for Mueang Songkhla

Action ..®: Conduct pilot epidemiology studies relevant to the transboundary movement of air pollution

In coordination with the Ministry of Public Health, Songkhla Province should prepare a study to draw the linkages between the air pollution levels during the transboundary movement and the increased incidences of cardio vascular diseases, pulmonary breathing problems and lung cancer. Using stratiﬁed data analysis, the spilt of both morbidity and mortality between the senior, middle-aged and schoolchildren should be closely monitored so that lessons can be e¦ectively drawn. This will serve as a useful contribution to the national Government to take steps with the Indonesian Government authorities.

Action ..§: Conduct seasonal monitoring of the Songkhla coastline for the purpose of coastal management

Information and data on the coastline should be collected, compiled, maintained and be the basis for decision on coastal management solutions. Di¦erent solutions – hard engineering as well and soft engineering – should be periodically considered in order the determine the most appropriate one. As the behavior of the coastline is dynamic, it is important to carry out proper monitoring on an ongoing basis. The major stakeholders should be actively involved. This includes the Songkhla Municipality, Provincial Department of Environment, the Universities carrying out research studies and the Royal Navy. The Songkhla Municipality should initiate and coordinate this activity. Prior to initiating this activity, a preliminary study and plan should be prepared to outline how this will be done on an ongoing basis. As a part of this preliminary study, the recurring costs for the monitoring should be estimated and budgeted.

. Initiative : Pursue Innovative Financing Mechanisms Action ..: Establish a structured approach to raise ﬁnancial resources from the oil & gas exploration, production and service companies

There are several large oil and gas related companies operating o¦ the coast of Songkhla. Most have robust corporate social responsibility programs (e.g. PTTEP supports sustainable ﬁsheries in the lake). So far the CSR e¦orts are ad hoc and vary by each company’s interests. Songkhla Municipality, in cooperation with the provincial government, should develop a structured marketing approach to reach out to the oil and gas companies and help raise funds that support GrEEEn activities in a systematic manner. Some of these activities could include expanding workforce training, as well as promoting research and development linkages with local universities.

Action ..: Develop proposals for Central Government funding for GrEEEn City initiatives

To address some of the problems confronting the municipality, the ﬁnancial resources required can be met only through funding from the central government. For instance, addressing the e¬uent problem arising from the ﬁsh processing centers requires resources GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

and interdisciplinary coordination that will require the central, provincial and local government cooperation. This may be from internal budgets or funds available from external funding sources. The Songkhla Municipality should constantly put together proposals for such funding from the Central Government. Such projects should be pursued further and packaged as various projects/initiatives being done to make Songkhla a GrEEEn City.

Action ..: Establish a separate Cell/Division to raise ﬁnances from the private sector for GrEEEn City initiatives

There are certain investments that the Songkhla Municipality will have to find resources within the city’s economy. For these investments, Songkhla Municipality is unlikely to get support from the central government. For instance, planting of roadside trees or maintenance of parks require financial resources on an ongoing basis. Other examples include promoting energy-eªciency lighting or improving community waste management in low-income areas. Financial resources could potentially be raised from the private sector. For this purpose, Songkhla Municipality should consider establishing a separate Cell/Division that works for the GrEEEn City Working Group (see Section ) to streamline both raising the finances, maintaining liaison and overseeing the implementation of these activities.

. Summary of Initiatives, Suggested Timeline and Responsibilities

The table on next page (Table .) provides a brief summary of the expected outcomes related to each action. In addition, a timeline is proposed, and the level of government that could take responsibility for leading the action has been identiﬁed. The Green City Working Group should discuss the proposed timeline and level of government and develop a more detailed timeline/responsibility matrix as further speciﬁcs on each action become available. The Working Group should also coordinate with other institutions such at the Rajamangala University of Srivijaya who could take on the responsibility of implementing some of the proposed actions.

. Estimated Costs

The estimated costs (Table .) are rough order-of-magnitude costs. These are based on a preliminary understanding of the e¦ort required for preparing additional studies. The TA team has identiﬁed these costs based on previous experiences. However, these costs may change after a detailed scope of work is developed for each task. The estimated costs are based on the assumption that national experts from Thailand will undertake these tasks. All investment costs are based on discussions with the two Municipalities and/or the agencies that are involved with the provision of these urban services. In most cases the costs don’t include estimates related to infrastructure provision. Scoping GrEEEn Initiatives for Mueang Songkhla

Table .:Summary of Initiatives, Related Actions, Potential Beneﬁts and Level of Government Responsible for Leading Implementation

Proposed Initiative/Action Timeline Potential Benefits Responsibility Initiative : Promote Tourism • Pursue World Heritage City designation Short-term Increase tourism, City heritage management • Address parking and traªc congestion in Old Town Short-term Improve tourist City experience • Work with private property owners to improve Short-term Preserve cultural assets, City maintenance of historic properties enhance tourism • Prepare a regional tourism strategy to promote Short-term Increase tourism Province complementary assets opportunities Initiative : Enhance Land Management • Conduct a land availability assessment to identify Short-term Increase land for Province underutilized public land development • Initiate leasing or transfer of vacant/underutilized lands Medium-term Increase land for Province for development of low-income housing and tourism tourism/housing, reduce related amenities pressure on open space • Explore redevelopment of slum and low income housing Short- to Enhance livability/ City through land readjustment, titling and/or resettlement Medium-Term reduce vulnerability for low income residents • Evaluate e¦ectiveness, including delivery, of housing Short-term Enhance livability for low City improvement financing at the community level income residents • Greening the city roads Short- to Increase green cover in City Medium-term the city • Promote urban agriculture Short-term Increase productivity of City vacant land • Intensifying green areas Short-term Increase recreational City and green space Initiative : Enhance Environmental Quality • Study to establish the linkage between fishery Short-term Reduce risk to National productivity and deteriorating lake quality livelihoods for low income population • Expanding “Save fisheries, Save lake” community Short-term Increase sustainable Province campaigns use of lake • Groundwater quality monitoring Short- to Improve water Province Medium-term resource management • Interventions with the rubber processing industries Short-term Reduce water pollution Province • Achieve ± coverage of wastewater collection Short- to Long- Improve access to National term municipal services • Install septic tanks, in the Old Town and beachfront areas Short-to Reduce risk of water City Medium-term pollution • Study to strengthen landfill management practices Short- to Reduce risk of pollution National Medium-term • Study to determine solutions for the fish processing Short-term Reduce risk of water Province industrial wastes pollution, loss of livelihoods • Conduct pilot epidemiology studies relevant to the Short-term Reduce public health Province transboundary movement of air pollution risks • Conduct the seasonal monitoring of the Songkhla Short- to Improve management National coastline for the purpose of coastal management Medium-term of natural asset continued on next page GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

Table .continued

Proposed Initiative/Action Timeline Potential Benefits Responsibility Initiative : Pursue Innovative Financing Mechanisms • Establish a structured approach to tap financial resources Short-term Enhance access to Province from the oil & gas exploration, production and service private sources of companies funds • Develop proposals for central government funding for Short-term Improve access to Province GrEEEn City initiatives central government funds • Establish a separate cell/division to raise finances from the Short-term Enhance access to Province private sector for GrEEEn City initiatives private sources of funds Note: Short-term » – years / Medium-term » – years / Long-term » to years.

Table .:Order of Magnitude Cost Estimates for Proposed Initiatives

Proposed Initiative/Action Estimated Costs Initiative . Promote Tourism Action : Pursue World Heritage City designation USD , (Researching and compiling application) Action : Address parking and traªc congestion in Old Town USD , (Preparing a transportation management plan) Action : Work with private property owners to improve maintenance of USD ,, (Estimated cost to renovate historic properties shophouses) Action : Prepare a regional tourism strategy to promote USD , (Prepare a regional tourism complementary assets strategy) Initiative . Enhance Land Management Action : Conduct a land availability assessment to identify USD , (Assessment) underutilized public land Action : Initiate leasing or transfer of vacant/underutilized lands for USD , °° (Estimated transaction costs to development of low-income housing and tourism related amenities transfer or lease property, prepare surveys, and auction development rights: depending on the size and number of properties) Action : Explore redevelopment of slum and low income housing USD , (Estimated cost of study) through land readjustment, titling and/or resettlement Action : Evaluate e¦ectiveness, including delivery, of housing No estimate improvement financing at the community level Action : Greening the city roads USD , (Horticulturalist study) Action : Promote urban agriculture Action : Intensifying green areas USD . million (Executing planned green projects) Initiative . Enhance Environmental Quality Action : Study to establish the linkage between fishery productivity and USD , (Estimated cost of study) deteriorating lake quality Action : Expanding “Save fisheries, Save lake” community campaigns USD , (Campaign costs) Action : Groundwater quality monitoring USD , (Cost of study) Action : Interventions with the rubber processing industries USD , (Facilitating periodic forums) Action : Achieve ± coverage of wastewater collection USD , (Cost of study) continued on next page Scoping GrEEEn Initiatives for Mueang Songkhla

Table .continued

Proposed Initiative/Action Estimated Costs Action : Install septic tanks, in the Old Town and beachfront areas USD , (Survey and pre-feasibility study) Action : Study to strengthen landfill management practices USD , (Cost of study) Action : Study to determine solutions for the fish processing industrial USD , (Pre-feasibility study) wastes Action : Conduct pilot epidemiology studies relevant to the USD , (Cost of study) transboundary movement of air pollution Action : Conduct the seasonal monitoring of the Songkhla coastline USD , (Cost of study) for the purpose of coastal management Initiative : Pursue innovative financing mechanisms Action : Establish a structured approach to tap financial resources from USD , (Cost of developing a marketing the oil & gas exploration, production and service companies plan) Action : Develop proposal for central government funding for GrEEEn No estimate City initiatives Action : Establish a separate cell/division to raise finances from the No estimate private sector for GrEEEn City initiatives Hat Yai Municipality – Urban Profile

. Land Use and Land Management System

Current Situation

Hat Yai is the largest city in southern Thailand. It is a popular destination for shopping and education, and serves as a hub for transportation and trading. Hat Yai municipality has an area of square kilometers. Most of this is built out or conserved as public open space. Predominant land uses include shopping malls and commercial streets, mixed-use neighborhoods, universities, public open spaces, and oªces. While there are considerable small and medium size industries located within Hat Yai, most large-scale industries are located in adjacent municipalities, particularly to the west.

Between and , Hat Yai’s population grew by approximately percent. This rapid growth is expected to continue, particularly with increasing trade between Thailand and Malaysia, continued popularity of the city as an education center, as well as e¦orts to increase tourism opportunities in the region. As a result, the city is expanding outwards and upwards. Most new development is taking places in the adjacent municipalities of Kor-Hong and Kuan Lang, while within the municipal boundary, large-scale redevelopment with tall residential towers has become the norm.

Key Issues

• Spot development: Most large-scale redevelopment in Hat Yai is taking place in an isolated manner. Rather than being concentrated in one location, high-density development is spread across the city. This raises demand for services in various neighborhoods. Additionally, spreading development leads to traªc congestion, as most trips (to work, school or shopping) require the use of a personal automobile. • Rising housing and land prices: Hat Yai has been experiencing a rapid rise in housing and land prices. Local perception is that most of the increase has been fueled by investors from outside the city, region and even Large-scale urban development in Hat Yai Hat Yai Municipality – Urban Proﬁle

outside the country. These investors are purchasing condominiums as investment properties or as a residence for their children enrolled in local schools and colleges. Also, due to lower land costs and greater availability, most new development is taking place at the urban periphery, resulting in increasing commuting distances for people who continue to work in Hat Yai. • Pressure to develop open and green space: Approximately percent of the land in the city is dedicated to open space, including parks for recreation, green corridors along streets and water channels, and environmentally sensitive areas. Developable land within the city is limited. As a result, there is considerable pressure to develop open areas. • Flood risk: Flooding is a significant problem in Hat Yai. The government has invested heavily in infrastructure and flood preparedness systems to reduce vulnerability to flooding (see section on Flooding below). After a disastrous event in , when nearly percent of Hat Yai was flooded, there is emerging recognition that the challenge of flooding cannot be completely eliminated, and that the city has to learn to “live with floods.” The city has set up emergency warning systems and shelters to provide residents a safe place during flood events. However, risks related to loss of property remain a problem in areas that will continue to experience flooding.

. Enabling Environment

Current Situation

Just as in Mueang Songkhla, four levels of government institutions, and their respective plans, policies, projects and programs inﬂuence development of Hat Yai municipality (see Figure .). At the highest level, national ministries (with province level departments) are responsible for preparing and implementing capital-intensive projects and programs. At the next level down, the Songkhla Province Government (with the Governor as the head) is responsible for administration and security in the province. The province government also performs planning functions, and undertakes preparation and implementation of projects and programs.

National government departments, the provincial government, and the municipal government are the three sets of agencies most responsible for development within the boundaries of Hat Yai municipality. The PAO is more inﬂuential outside the city boundary.

In an e¦ort to promote decentralization of government powers and decision-making, Thailand has established a system of local communities at the sub-municipality and sub-district (‘Tambon’) level. Hat Yai is organized into such communities. These communities have elected leadership and a budget for community development activities. Tasks that are handled at the community level can include providing and maintaining basic services such as keeping streets clean, solid waste collection, providing small grants towards housing improvements, or promoting small-scale industries to generate employment. Additionally, the communities o¦er a platform for residents to raise concerns and participate in decision-making at the municipal level. GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

Figure .:Thai Bureaucracy System

Cabinet Prime Minister

Central Administration Provincial Administration Local Administration

Ministry Bureau Province Municipality The Prime Provincial Sub-district Minister’s Administrative Administrative Organization Organization Oce District

Department Department Department Sub-District Pattaya City Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Village

Key Issues

• The lack of coordination between the di¦erent levels of governments and across municipal boundaries is one of the main challenges to integrated development. The Governor of Songkhla Province has appointed a “Working Group” to manage the GrEEEn City development activities for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities. The committee consists of a multidisciplinary team including oªcials from both municipalities, independent experts and representatives from other government departments, and Civil Society • Some communities are more active than others: Even though there is platform to engage in community development activities, participation varies across di¦erent communities. Lack of awareness about the role of the community structure and rights to participate is one of the main factors for low participation in some of the communities.

. Economic Assets Entertainment Tourism

Current Situation

The populous city of Hat Yai, the largest in Songkhla Province, is Southern Thailand’s commercial, shopping, and entertainment center. Hat Yai is located just km from the Malaysian border. Consequently, it is a popular destination for visitors from Malaysia, who enjoy dining on seafood Malls are popular tourist destinations in Hat Yai and experiencing Hat Yai’s lively nightlife. Hat Yai Municipality – Urban Proﬁle

Hat Yai is recognized as an entertainment tourism city. Tourism is divided into three types: Religious tourism, shopping tourism and entertainment/nightlife tourism. The famous shopping places in Hat Yai municipality are the Kimyong market, Santisuk market, Hat Yai City Square and department stores. The nightclubs, as well as the local cuisines, attract both domestic and international (particularly Malaysian) tourists. There are service-oriented businesses that support tourism i.e. hotels and restaurants. Statistics reveal that there are small hotels (less that rooms), medium hotels (– rooms) and big hotels (more than rooms). Apart from hotels, there are other businesses supporting tourism in Hat Yai. These include cinemas, spas, massage parlors, department stores, markets, gas stations, banks and hospitals (Hat Yai is starting to become a medical tourism destination as well).

Key Issues

Tourism in Hat Yai has developed rapidly but not necessarily in a structured manner. The focus has been to increase the contribution of entertainment tourism to the city’s economic development. On the one hand, there is no assurance that the beneﬁts of tourism are being shared equitably within the city’s population. Also, there is no particular e¦ort to ensure that sustainable tourism e.g. with minimal environmental impacts, is being practiced.

Developing a GrEEEn hub for industry, business and trade

Current Situation

Hat Yai municipality is the commercial center of the lower Southern region. With the beneﬁt from a good transportation network, Hat Yai has become a center for product exchange among the southern regions in Thailand. In addition, it is also an agriculture goods distributing hub between Thailand and neighboring countries. There are two well-known commercial trading markets – Santisuk Market and Kimyong Market. There is also an initiative to synergize from its popularity as a commercial and tourism destination, and turn the city into a meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) destination in order to raise tourism-related revenue.

Hat Yai has considerable small and medium size industries located within the municipal boundary. However, most large-scale industries are located to the west, in adjacent municipalities.

Key Issues

Today, the commercial center for industry, business and trade is being used solely to promote the economic growth of the city and the surrounding areas. By introducing GrEEEn practices, the city can become a demonstration place for integrating environmental and equity considerations with economic development. Pursuing GrEEEn growth will be imperative for the long-term sustainability of the region. GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

. Environmental Services and Quality Water Supply

Current Situation

Water for Hat Yai city is primarily sourced from the U-Tapao Canal that ﬂows from hills in the Sadao province (north) to the Songkhla Lake (south). The abstraction point is upstream of the canal and before it enters Hat Yai city. But the abstraction point is downstream of e¬uent discharges from the rubber processing industries. In its raw form, the water quality is not regarded as ﬁt for consumption. It is recognized as contaminated with oils & grease, organic pollutants, phosphates and manganese. The abstracted water is treated by a water supply utility, which is under the national government. The quality of the treated water is provided to the Hat Yai municipality periodically.

While percent of the Hat Yai city’s requirement is met through the water abstracted from the UTapao Canal, the remaining percent is from ground water sources. Abstraction from groundwater sources – available at a depth of m - is managed by private companies, which have their decentralized distribution systems. The Municipality is not directly involved. The system managed by private companies appears to be working e¦ectively.

Key Issues

The quality of the water supply is linked to the extent of e¬uents released by the rubber processing industries and the e¦ectiveness of the water supply treatment facility. During the summer season when the water ﬂows in the canals as well as the dilution levels are lower, there is a possibility that the water supply in the city retains the contamination. This would happen if the water supply treatment is not commensurate with increased pollution levels. With regards to groundwater extraction, (for the balance percent), it is important to ensure that the source of the groundwater is not near a potential contamination site, either an industry or even seepage from improper domestic wastewater.

Domestic Wastewater & Sanitation

Current Situation

Wastewater is collected from households and commercial establishments across the city through a combined system that includes both sewage as well as storm water. About percent of the city is covered in terms of wastewater collection. There are four lift stations and one pump stations to take the wastewater to the treatment facility, which is situated beyond and south of the city. The Hat Yai Municipality has purchased the land (about ha.) for this treatment facility and other proposed future initiatives.

The treatment facility has the capacity of , cu.m. per day. Generally, during the dry season, the flow is about , cum per day and, during the rains, it goes up to , cu.m. per day. At the entry, there is a pumping system that includes a screening for garbage. After screening, the wastewater goes to a system of ponds that form the treatment system. These include two Facultative, two Anaerobic, two Aerobic and five constructed wetlands. Overall, the treatment time is about days. After the treatment, the wastewater goes to a separate canal and flows to Songkhla Lake through gravity flow. The treated wastewater is Hat Yai Municipality – Urban Profile periodically tested to ensure that it meets the norms for pH, DO, BOD and SS. Even during the rains, there is no problem of overflows in the treatment facility as suªcient additional capacity has been provided.

In terms of septage management, there are four trucks with one cu.m. capacity each for evacuating septic tanks in the city. The coverage of septic tanks is almost percent. Older houses also New waste-to-energy plan in Hat Yai have soak pits that are connected directly to the combined system. About one cu.m. per day is the septage that is removed on a daily basis. This is specially treated before ﬁnal disposal in the existing landﬁll site.

Public toilets and conveniences are few in the city of Hat Yai (there are only three public toilets). The Municipality is not planning to construct more public toilets since there are publically available toilets in Malls and other shopping locations and the need for additional public toilets is not being felt.

Key Issues

The domestic wastewater collection and treatment system has been well streamlined for percent of the city. But there is still a gap for the remaining percent that needs to be addressed. In terms of septage management, the landﬁll is completely utilized, and there is a need to assess how future septage will be disposed, since improper disposal of septage has the potential to contaminate the groundwater.

Solid Waste (municipal, hazardous and biomedical)

Current Situation

Solid waste includes municipal, hazardous and biomedical waste. For each of these types of waste, collection is required, and processing and disposal has to be planned and implemented. These wastes are generated both by the inhabitants (about , persons), approximately , non-registered residents, as well as tourists. Given the limited area of sq. km., the issue of waste and its management is of vital importance in Hat Yai.

The generation of municipal waste is estimated to be about tons per day. Of this, about tons/day are rejects that can be reused or recycled. And, the remaining tons/day is waste that has to be processed and/or landﬁlled. It is also estimated that about percent of the waste is combustible, and the remaining percent of the waste is non-combustible.

At the point of generation, there are e¦orts to promote segregation. For example, there are facilitation schemes for the exchange of recyclable waste for essential commodities. These are based on the prices that the recyclable waste will fetch. Such exchange markets help in segregating the waste at the point of generation. In terms of collection, waste is generally collected at night, i.e. between : and : in low traªc congestion areas, and between GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

: and : am in other areas. At other times, collection is done only when there is an urgent need. A community hotline has been established in order to collect requests for such urgent needs.

The Hat Yai Municipality has a fleet of vehicles (total of garbage trucks) for the collection of waste. All the municipal waste is taken to the landfill, where it is o¬oaded at a given point, pushed and spread, compacted and covered with soil on a daily basis. The landfill has served Hat Yai Municipality and four other municipalities for more than years and is nearly full. It cannot be expanded any further and e¦orts to find a new location has met with sti¦ resistance from area residents. Given that situation, the Municipality has invited private investment for the development of a new gasification and ash melting plant. The plant uses waste-to-energy technology that will produce electricity. The plant is at an advanced stage of commissioning and is expected to produce electricity by early . Once this waste -to-energy plant is in place, the quantity of municipal waste to be disposed in the landfill will be reduced. The plant is expected to process (and therefore dispose) tons of waste per day.

As previously mentioned, there is about ton of recyclable waste produced per day. Some of it is recycled in a small factory in Hat Yai. The rest leaves Hat Yai to another recycling factory in the middle of Thailand. A small processing facility also exists adjacent to the landﬁll that composts organic waste. This facility processes about one ton of waste per day. It was established as a pilot/demonstration plant and serves about to households.

Since the landﬁll has been used for more than years, it has collected about . million tons of waste. A small waste cleaning facility (with capacity of , cu.m.) has been set up to clean up some of this waste that will then be used as fuel in the new waste-to-energy plant.

Bio-medical wastes are generated by hospitals and clinics. In the past, hospital wastes were incinerated. Now, the two hospitals located in Hat Yai treat the waste through autoclaving (not incineration). After autoclaving, these wastes tend to reused, or recycled if permitted. If not, these wastes are sent to the landﬁll for ﬁnal disposal. The clinics in Hat Yai – about in number – use a private party for waste collection. The private party takes the bio-medical wastes to a location in Patalung Province, which is about km from Hat Yai.

For hazardous waste, there are about collecting stations within the city. These include industrial waste, such as ﬂuorescent lamps. There is a common system of collection, transportation and ﬁnal disposable which is coordinated at the Province Level.

Key Issues

The municipal waste management practices appear to be reasonably well streamlined in terms of collection and transportation. However, the disposal practices are quite basic. Open dumping practices are being adopted in the existing landfill, which is almost fully utilized. Even though a waste-to-energy plant exists, a landfill will be required for the residues. Apparently, limited provision has been made for this purpose. Bio-medical waste management practices appear to be rather basic, considering that the earlier incineration technology has been replaced with autoclaving technology in the two hospitals. Good bio-medical waste management will require incineration of certain types of wastes and autoclaving other types of wastes. Hat Yai Municipality – Urban Profile

Air Pollution

Current Situation

The only ambient air quality station in the Songkhla Province is in Hat Yai city. This is a continuous air quality monitoring station, which is located along the Klong Tae Canal. The monitoring results are sent directly to the Bangkok oªce of the Department of Pollution Control and the data is available on a real time basis on the web. The table below provides information of the parameters monitored and the Air Quality Index (AQI) over a -day period in September (see Figure .).

As can be seen, the AQI ranges from to , which between Good and Moderate. It is only during the period of forest ﬁres in Indonesia that the air quality levels in the city drops to dangerous levels. In order to monitor the transboundary movement of air pollutants, there is another monitoring station located in the domestic wastewater plant. This has a tall probe that collects air samples so that a more accurate estimate can be obtained of the extent of the air pollution arising from the same.

Key Issues

Presently, as the monitoring results reveal, there is no air pollution problem due to the activities within the city. The only major air pollution problem is the transboundary movement of air pollutants due to the forest ﬁres. This is well beyond the ability of the city’s municipality to control and is a national level problem. Even though the city does not have high levels of vehicular air pollution at present, this is likely to be an issue in the future. The use of -stroke engines and the increase in the number of vehicles is bound to result in a more concerning air pollution problem. Hat Yai is also a bowl, i.e. surrounded by hills on all sides. Therefore, the air pollutants will also tend to stay within the city.

Figure .:Air Quality Data for Hat Yai Municipality

The graph of air quality The table shows the air quality after days

CO PM O (ppm) NO SO PM O CO NO SO AQI Date (ug/m) (ppb) Avg (ppb) (ppb) AQI Air Quality Avg Max hr Avg Avg Max No Sep . Moderate data

Sep . Moderate Sep . Good

National Standard Sep . Good AQI No Sep Good data No Sep . Good data

No Sep . Good Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep data

– – – – - Dairy Index Color Good Moderate Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Dangerous - Hourly GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

Low Carbon

Current Situation

Hat Yai is participating in a national three-year program (-), funded by the European Union, to promote low carbon municipalities. There are four focus areas under this low carbon initiative – greening, energy-eªciency, waste minimization and sustainable consumption. The national-level program aims to work with municipalities and to identify exemplary projects to commemorate the th birthday of the King. As part of this program, Hat Yai Municipality prepares an annual report of the activities done, that include:

• Planting of trees and expanding green areas. • Managing waste/wastewater management through campaign activities, converting waste-to-energy and improving wastewater collection and treatment systems. • Promoting ways to use renewable energy that include solar power for commercial establishments, converting waste-to-energy and piloting renewable biodiesel from used vegetable oil in the pilot municipalities. • Working towards sustainable resource consumption through reduced paper use in Government correspondences by switching to electronic media. • Promoting local consumption through home and kitchen gardens.

Key Issues

Through the national level initiative, some of the low carbon activities relevant to cities are being undertaken in Hat Yai. However, the two main areas where low carbon activities are generally the focus in cities are reducing transport emissions and reducing building emissions. While the former is not at all addressed, the latter is somewhat addressed through promoting solar power. But it is even more important in the short-term to promote energy-eªciency in buildings since Hat Yai is seeing a boom in the construction of large buildings.

Climate-induced ﬂooding and drainage

Current Situation

Seasonal flooding is the single largest problem facing the city of Hat Yai. Located on the flood plains of the Utapao Canal that flows from the hills in the Sadao Province (South) to the Songkhla Lake (North), the city experiences floods and often disasters. The city is located in a geographical bowl that serves as a sink for a large catchment area (about , sq. km. in size). During rainy periods, water flows into the city from the south, east and west. The outward flow is to the north and to the Songkhla Lake. In addition to the geographical condition, rapid urbanization and unplanned city growth, along with blocked drains, encroached floodways and reduced water containment areas, have further contributed to more frequent and severe floods.

Over the last two decades, the city has faced two major seasonal climate-induced floods (in and ). In the year , the water levels were up to five meters in height in the most flooded area (Hat Yai Nai). In the year , about people died, and it took four days for the flood water to drain.

The U-Tapao Canal and the Drainage Canal (built after the floods) do not have suªcient capacity to drain the inflows through the city to the Songkhla lake without causing Hat Yai Municipality – Urban Profile

flooding. To hasten the outflow, there are more than pumping stations, which have the capacity to pump about cu.m./sec. Out of these, the biggest pumping station is one that pumps cu.m./sec. These pumping stations are large assets developed in order to reduce the impact on the city during the seasonal floods. In spite of the large pumping capacity already in place, it is estimated that further capacity of cu.m./sec is required to manage the outflow. System of drainage canals to manage urban flooding

Recently, Hat Yai city has been working to enhance resilience through the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) project, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. The project started in Aug and was completed in November . Under the project, a Hat Yai Working Group was constituted to plan and develop the Resilience strategy. A vulnerability assessment was prepared and a variety of initiatives have been undertaken to enhance resilience, including: (a) Real-time flood monitoring using CCTV; (b) development of a website (www.hatyaicityclimate.org) that provides both weather forecast and flood information; (c) a flood model was developed in order to assist residents monitor water level and prepare to evacuate to higher grounds; (d) developing climate-informed flood plans by updating flood modeling systems for better flood prediction and early warning; and, (e) strengthening capacity of local communities in flood preparedness with a particular focus on the two most vulnerable poor communities in flood prone areas.

The ﬂoods a¦ected not just Hat Yai city but the Hat Yai District as a whole. Within the district, there are many municipalities including Khlong Hae (to the north), Kho Hong (to the east), Kuan Lang (to the west) and Banphra (to the south) that were adversely a¦ected. The problem of ﬂooding places emphasis on the importance of multijurisdictional solutions, as rapid urbanization and population have resulted in a regional challenge.

Key Issues

Living with seasonal floods is a major issue for the city of Hat Yai. It is estimated that about percent of the city is under floodwaters during the heavy rains. To address the flooding, both upstream solutions that are outside the jurisdiction of Hat Yai city and in-city solutions are to be considered.

Avoidance of the flooding problem is largely an upstream issue. There are already three reservoirs constructed to hold water in Sadao (to the south). Another reservoir was proposed but not implemented due to lack of funds. In Namom (to the east), there is no space to build a reservoir. It appears that upstream solutions to contain the water during the seasonal rains are no longer a possibility. In terms of upstream solutions to divert the floodwater away from the Hat Yai city, it appears that there is no further land available for a canal like Drainage that was built after the floods. There is some consideration being given to establish drains along a new road alignment that is being planned jointly by the National Highway Department and the Irrigation and Water Resources Department. GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

Within Hat Yai city, some of the steps that are needed to reduce the flood incidences include: (a) enhancing the flood water outflow through improved pumping capacity; (b) removing debris from blocked drains; and (c) land use planning to keep the flood plains free from habitable development. However, these are diªcult steps to undertake. For instance, relocating people living in the floodplains or in low-lying areas in an already densely populated city is both a technical and a political challenge.

Through the ACCCRN project, Hat Yai has begun to implement an approach of “living with floods.” Though not a preventive approach, this is indeed required as the flood avoidance solution is well outside the control of the Hat Yai Municipality. However, a lot of work is still needed to ensure that the city’s vulnerability to flooding is reduced.

Green Spaces

Current Situation

Hat Yai recognizes the importance of green spaces in its endeavor to be the “City of Joy or Happiness.” The Hat Yai Municipality maintains many parks in the city with the Park of Happiness – in the northeast part of the city – being the largest. It has been developed as a recreational center along with an excellent landscape consisting of a rich collection of trees that are both native and ornamental. Other parks in the city include Sripuwanart Park, Banghak Park, Daiishi Park, Sang Thong School Park, Thammanulwitee Park, Suppasarn Rangsan Park and Thidanukhro School Park. Smaller pocket parks are located in government, university and school campuses and along some of the canals parks.

The WHO recommended minimum for green spaces is nine sq.m. per person. In the context of Hat Yai, which has a permanent population of ,, this works out to be about . sq. km. or six percent of the city. Presently, the green spaces add up to about . sq.m, falling marginally short of the WHO norm. Given that there is also a large visiting population, the green spaces in Hat Yai are less than optimal. Also, in area terms, WHO recommendation is that at least percent of the city’s area should be green spaces. Hat Yai city falls short of that recommendation as well.

In what Hat Yai Municipality maintains, there is a focus on conserving indigenous species, and a constant drive to expand green spaces along the roads/main streets, traªc islands, etc. There is also an e¦ort to promote roof gardens.

Key Issues

Green spaces are the lungs of any city, particularly in a land-locked one. With the growth of the city, the land values increase and the ﬁrst compromise that tends to be made is to convert open green spaces into other land use. This has a large negative impact on the livability of the city, both from the quality of air as well as aesthetic appeal. Being positioned as a city that has “entertainment tourism” as its focus, Hat Yai’s green spaces face pressure from other land use applications. The green spaces in Hat Yai are already below the WHO norms both in population terms and in area terms. Therefore, e¦orts to preserve existing green spaces, intensify and expand green spaces where possible are required. Hat Yai Municipality – Urban Proﬁle

. Transportation-Related Accessibility

Current Situation

Hat Yai is a transportation hub in southern Thailand. The Hat Yai International Airport is located kilometers from the city and provides national and international connections. Rail connects Hat Yai to Bangkok and other cities to the north, as well as, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to the south. There are two municipal bus stations in Hat Yai – one caters primarily to buses and the other to minibuses.

Overcrowded ‘songtaew’ ferrying school children Hat Yai is served by several modes of transportation including buses, minibuses, minivans, personal automobiles and two-wheelers, songtaews (modiﬁed pick-up trucks), tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis. Between Hat Yai and other municipalities including Mueang Songkhla, public transportation consists of buses, minibuses, minivans, songtaews and taxis. Within the city, private operators ply tuk-tuks, songtaews and minibuses.

People also use personal automobiles and two-wheelers including motorcycles, scooters and electric bicycles, to travel within and around Hat Yai. Some people travel daily from Songkhla to Hat Yai for work or education. Others live in adjacent communities and commute to Hat Yai for employment, or for attending schools and colleges. Transportation costs as a proportion of household expenses was not raised as a concern during stakeholder consultations.

Key Issues

• Increasing localized congestion: A Transportation Management Plan found that several roads in the central area of Hat Yai are congested during morning rush hour (. to . am). Although accessibility to jobs, schools, commercial facilities or social amenities was not raised as an issue during stakeholder consultations, there are several hotspots where localized traªc congestion is a problem. These include roads such as Petchkasem Road that goes through the center of the city, streets adjacent to schools that get congested during school drop-o¦ and pick-up times, and key intersections such as Nam Kra Jai intersection on the access road between Songkhla and Hat Yai. Regional connectivity is not a serious challenge yet, but can worsen as the vehicular traªc continues to increase. • Limited public transportation connectivity: The city has two public bus routes that don’t provide adequate coverage throughout the city and adjacent areas. Although, the gap is being covered by songtaews, tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis, these can be unreliable and inconvenient during rainy weather. Further, the buses get congested during rush hour, bus stops are not spread evenly along the routes, and lack of shelter for passengers waiting for buses, can make the experience inconvenient for users.

Study of public transport in Hadyai including connecting routes to Songkhla. Prepared by the Trac and Transport Development and Research Center, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. . GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

. Low Income Housing

Current Situation

The Hat Yai municipal government has identified that approximately out of communities contain significant poor or slum housing that is located on encroached land. These include housing on railroad ROW, and along waterways and canal areas. The government identified that a total of , households live in these poor or slum areas.

Key Issues

• Limited access to basic utilities: Even though a number of the poor and slum area are permanent in nature, access to utilities (particularly sewerage infrastructure) is limited in these communities. • Flooding: The households living in low income and slum housing continue to be some of the most vulnerable populations in Hat Yai.

. Budgeting and Financing

Current Situation

The main revenue for the Hat Yai municipality are taxation, fees and ﬁne, income from local property, municipal ownership, local subsidy, loans from the central ministry, bonds and other miscellaneous incomes. The main expenditure of Hat Yai municipality can be divided into two categories: () national budget, which is the ﬁxed expense for general events in the municipality such as repayment of debt and interest, disbursement and general expense, and () municipality sector expense that includes expenditure in each sectors of the municipality. This can be further divided into two categories that are (a) expenditures such as salary, hiring expenses, facility expenses and other related expenses, and (b) investment on land, asset and construction.

Key Issues

The key issue is that there is no separate budget available to the Hat Yai municipality for initiating new GrEEEn City initiatives. There is also little scope for increasing the revenue inflow in order to make specific interventions through GrEEEn City initiatives. Therefore, the capital investments required for GrEEEn City initiatives should be raised through central government budgets that may be from Government or multilateral development agencies, and private sources of funding such as through CSR programs of oil companies and fish processing industries.

. Summary of Key Issues and Analysis

Table .:Summary of Key Issues and Analysis from a GrEEEn City Perspective in Hat Yai Municipality

Key Issues Analysisa Land Use and Land Management System • Increasing pressure on infrastructure including area • Large-scale redevelopment is taking place in an ad roadways across several parts of the city hoc manner, raising demand for services in various • Rising housing and land prices neighborhoods and causing traªc congestion by increasing • Increasing commuting distances vehicular trips. • Pressure to develop open and green space • Regional and foreign investments in condominium • High levels of vulnerability to flooding properties is fueling rising land and housing prices, and pushing development to the periphery. • Hat Yai continues to be extremely prone to flooding and there is growing recognition that the floods cannot be completely eliminated. The city is learning to “live with floods” as an adaptation strategy. Enabling Environment • Lack of coordination between di¦erent levels of • National decentralization law has pushed decision- government and across municipal boundaries making to the local and provincial governments. These governments have limited financial and human resources to address and manage multisectoral and multi-jurisdictional issues. Economic Assets Entertainment tourism Entertainment tourism • Unstructured development of entertainment tourism • Need to manage tourism better due to increasing competition from other destinations. • Interest to move away from shady tourism opportunities to those catering to families and religious tourists that have been increasing in number

Hub for industry, business and trade Hub for industry, business and trade • Growing unilaterally with an economic development • Need to explore and become pioneers in environmental- focus without any consideration to environmental or friendly business practices equity dimensions Environmental Services and Quality Water Supply and Wastewater Water Supply and Wastewater • Threats to water quality • Potential threats from insuªcient e¬uent treatment • Wastewater ﬂows through open canals and a¦ects related to the rubber processing industries. alternative use of the canal for tourism or recreation • Not all of the city’s wastewater is being piped to the wastewater treatment facility. • Lack of monitoring of groundwater extraction.

Solid Waste Solid Waste • Limited space remains in the landﬁll • Need to plan for future disposal of solid waste in the • Biomedical waste shipped outside the city context of the recently commissioned waste-to-energy plant. • Need to evaluate establishing an incinerator for bio-medical and hazardous waste to serve Hat Yai.

Air Pollution Air Pollution • Seasonal poor air quality • Transboundary movement of pollutants related to forest ﬁres in neighboring countries.

Low Carbon Low Carbon • Carbon emissions emanating from activities in the city • Transportation sector and buildings predominantly responsible for the emissions continued on next page GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

Table .continued

Key Issues Analysisa Environmental Services and Quality (Cont.) Climate-induced flooding and drainage Climate-induced flooding and drainage • About ± of the city is potentially flooded during the • The city’s location in a large catchment area makes it rains. vulnerable to flooding. • Despite investments in upstream reservoirs and drainage channels, the problem of flooding persists. • The city is beginning to explore the option of “living with floods”

Green Spaces Green Spaces • Pressure to convert green space to alternate land use • Limited availability of developable land within the city boundary Transportation-Related Accessibility • Increasing localized congestion • Increasing number of vehicles and expansion of the urban boundary are leading to increasing vehicular trips • The city has limited public transportation coverage. Although the gap is being covered by songtaews, tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis, these are adding vehicular trips to the local roadways. Additionally, these modes can be unreliable and inconvenient during rainy weather. Low Income Housing • Encroachment along railroad ROW • Due to high land prices and to a shortage of developable • Limited access to basic utilities land, the abandoned ROW is attractive as a temporary • Vulnerability to flooding housing solution for low-income residents. • Access to basic utilities, particularly sewerage, is diªcult in encroached areas. • With nearly percent of the city prone to flooding, low- income residents are amongst the most vulnerable in Hat Yai. Budget and Financial Resources • Limited avenues available to Hat Yai Municipality for • The city is still heavily dependent on the national and fund-raising for GrEEEn initiatives provincial level government for municipal finances • Limited experience in reaching out to the private sector for funding a The analysis is based on secondary sources and a preliminary assessment of issues that was possible within the timeframe and resources available to conduct the GCAP. Hat Yai Municipality’s Vision for a GrEEEn City

. Stakeholder Workshop

A stakeholder and visioning workshop was organized in Hat Yai on August , . The primary purposes of the workshop were:

Approximately guests participated in the workshop. The stakeholders represented city leaders, civil society, government departments, business community, and interested residents.

Workshop Format

GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

. Vision for a GrEEEn City

“A GrEEEn City puts people ﬁrst, with a holistic view of development, growth, and access to services and opportunities for employment. This vision requires strong consensus amongst stakeholders for the city to achieve its GrEEEn goals and objectives. Visioning is the process of building alignment and consensus on “GrEEEn principles” and strategic development priorities at the city level. It helps evaluate the challenges and opportunities for urban development in the context of the GrEEEn Cities Operational Framework, and is conducted as part of the diagnostic assessments to generate the urban proﬁle.”

The participants were asked the question: “What do you want your city to be in § years?” and post their responses anonymously on meta-cards. Their responses were mapped to identify common themes (see Figure .). These common themes included emphasis on high quality services, tourism, no trac jams, ﬂood management, natural resources and environmental planning, shopping related tourism, safety, and education for all.

The ADB TA team developed a vision statement from the common themes – which was then agreed upon by the participants.

Figure .:Mapping of Vision Statements Received from Participants at the Stakeholder Workshop in Hat Yai What you want to your city to be in years? Livability and happy people living in sustainable environment

Natural Food High quality Smiling City resources and Canal management of service Environment No planning Watershed Terrorism Jobs Support from Waste national management management Good sanitation government fresh Good standard safety eco-friendly green Education for all of life Landscape clean nice Safety, healthy, and Tourism Improved GrEEEn City modern quality of life peaceful Shopping convenient well- paradise friendly order developed Public Industry Urban Space Medical hub Landscape Cooperative controlled community Better transport Transport hub More green Land use spaces planning Tram No trac jams Flexible Solve drug City for all Pedestrian Bike Lanes infrastructure problem ages pathways

Sandhu, S; and Naik Singru, R. . Enabling GrEEEn Cities: An Operational Framework, Working Paper Series. Southeast Asia Department. Asian Development Bank. Manila. Hat Yai Municipality’s Vision for a GrEEEn City

. SWOT Analysis

The SWOT analysis was conducted through facilitated group discussions. The participants were asked to separate into three groups – one focusing on economic aspects, one on environmental, and one on equity/inclusiveness. The ADB team then facilitated discussions related to the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in each group. At the end of the discussions, each group provided a summary to the entire group of participants.

Key points that emerged from the SWOT Analysis in Hat Yai include the following:

• Flooding is a major concern in Hat Yai that cuts across the three strategic themes. There are already e¦orts to address this concern, including a well functioning early warning system and community participation in ﬂood management. More needs to be done to address increased risks from climate change and to reduce threats to residences, businesses and trade community. • Open green space is a premium and the city could use more recreational land. • Poor land management including enforcement is a challenge.

Rapid urbanization including increasing number of industries particularly in the neighboring municipalities is leading to traªc problems and air pollution.

• There is a history of stakeholder participation in decision-making including a monthly meeting among government oªcials and residents. • One of Hat Yai’s strengths is its position as a hub for regional transportation, education, and health facilities. Proximity to the Malaysia border is an asset although proposed economic development at the border may threaten economic opportunities in Hat Yai. • Hat Yai is also a center for tourism, particularly related to shopping. Religious and family tourism is on the rise however opportunities to develop alternative tourism destinations (such as those related to the natural environment) are limited. • Illegal activities such as drugs, gambling and prostitution have resulted in a ﬂourishing ‘grey market’ and social challenges. • Infrastructure plans and projects including a rail link between Hat Yai and Songkhla, bypass road and new canals provide opportunities and challenges.

Stakeholder consultations at the workshop in Hat Yai GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

• Hat Yai does not have an identity of its own and is heavily reliant on the national government for city development.

This chapter identiﬁes key initiatives and actions that can support Hat Yai towards becoming a more livable city. The initiatives and actions are based on an assessment of current challenges and gaps (as discussed in Chapter ), as well as the SWOT analysis and visioning that were conducted for Hat Yai (as discussed in Chapter ). In some cases, the initiatives and actions build on existing or planned e¦orts in Hat Yai; in others, they are based on an understanding of global best practices related to improvements in environmental quality, economic opportunities and inclusive growth, in urban areas. Scoping GrEEEn Initiatives for Hat Yai

. Initiative : Diversify Tourism Opportunities

Hat Yai should continue to actively promote tourism in an e¦ort to become a GrEEEn City that o¦ers economic opportunities to all residents. The city is already a popular destination for entertainment, shopping and education. By linking with Mueang Songkhla that o¦ers a complementary set of experiences, Hat Yai can help to diversify and increase the number of tourists that come to the region.

Action ..: Prepare a regional tourism strategy to promote complementary assets

Hat Yai should work with Mueang Songkhla and the Provincial Government to prepare a regional tourism strategy that takes advantages of the complementary assets o¦ered in the region. The strategy should explore the feasibility of packaging shopping and entertainment opportunities o¦ered in Hat Yai with the opportunities for cultural and natural tourism o¦ered in Mueang Songkhla. Additionally, the government should explore the following in the strategy:

• Feasibility of establishing broad-based entertainment tourism – The economic benefits of tourism should preferably be inclusive, i.e. should reach all the city’s inhabitants. In this regard, the citizens can be engaged through o¦ering accommodation and serving food to the visiting population. Accommodation can be through home-stay arrangements so that the cities are accessible to tourists across a range of budgets, and also through boutique restaurants that serve the locally cooked food. Hat Yai is already renowned for its outstanding seafood, which can be enhanced with diverse home-cooked versions from Chinese, Malay, and Thai households. This will further enhance the economic competitiveness of tourism, while supporting inclusive growth. • Promoting environmentally friendly tourism – Entertainment tourism brings economic benefits but also a range of environmental impacts. During periods when tourism is at its peak, the city’s assets – particularly, waste management – are stretched. At present, there are no environmental initiatives related to pollution associated with tourism. Campaigns to make Hat Yai a GrEEEn City should be conceived and implemented. For instance, having a whole system for promoting waste avoidance, segregating waste at source and throwing waste in the bin should be streamlined so that the contribution of the entertainment tourism sector to the waste processing plant or landfill is actually reduced. To give a particular example, banning the use of plastic shopping bags will reduce non-biodegradable material from the waste stream. Such action will convey an important message to tourists – that the region is focused on environmental responsibility – while also reducing costs of environmental management. The government should assess the feasibility of ushering environmentally friendly tourism in the region. GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

. Initiative : Promote Living with Floods While Seeking to Reduce Floods Action ..: Studying alternatives for ﬂood management and avoidance

An institutional approach to study and monitor the incidence and implications of seasonal floods is required for Hat Yai. As an initial step, a comprehensive study on the U-Tapao River basin watershed is needed, focusing on studying alternatives (i.e. upstream solutions) for flood avoidance. This study should be constantly – even biennially – updated in order to incorporate the various natural and manmade changes in the region. The study of the flood way within the city and its e¦ectiveness should also be included as a part. Such a comprehensive study and a follow-up framework is required to enable sound decision-making not only for Hat Yai but for all the municipalities in the Hat Yai district. Hat Yai Municipality should take the lead in identifying the institution that will conduct this study and keep it updated, as well as stakeholders and experts who should be part of an advisory committee to support the institution in this e¦ort.

Action ..: Cleaning, dredging and beautiﬁcation of the canal

Within the city, the Hat Yai Municipality has built pumping facilities to enhance the outflow of floodwater. Further to these, the Municipality is also focusing on removing the drainage blocks prior to the rains. The Municipality should also consider institutionalizing dredging of the canals so as to increase the holding and flow capacity. Dredging can be an activity done throughout the year in order to prepare for the seasonal rains. As a first step, a pre-feasibility study will be required to understand how dredging is to be planned and executed for the canal system of Hat Yai.

Presently, parts of the canal system are being used to collection and transport the domestic wastewater to the treatment plant. For instance, the Klong Tae Canal collects about percent of the domestic wastewater. This is to be re-routed, canal cleaned and beautified, and a floating market established on the canal itself. Stretches of the canal are to be developed for recreation. A project is under development and is expected to begin implementation from onwards. It is likely that the values of properties with frontage along the canals will also be enhanced as a result of the beautification project.

Action ..: Continuing the “Living with Floods” initiative

A number of excellent initiatives have been streamlined under the ACCCRN project to build the resilience of the community. This is vital particularly considering that ﬂood avoidance solutions are not easy and not under the Municipality’s control. With the closure of the ACCCRN project, Hat Yai Municipality or the Province-level Department of Disaster Management should ensure that the activities being done by the Hat Yai Working Group are continued, expanded and outreach improved to beneﬁt more of the city’s residents. These should continue to focus on the quality-of-life elements and physical infrastructure needs of the a¦ected population. Scoping GrEEEn Initiatives for Hat Yai

Action ..: Develop a ‘flood-proofing’ program to improve properties that will continue to be flooded

Since a considerable number of properties in Hat Yai will continue to remain vulnerable to floods, the city should seek support from the national and provincial government to implement a “flood proofing” program. Flood proofing refers to building and property improvements that are aimed at either keeping water out, or reduce the impact of water entering a building. Such improvements can be made when buildings are under construction or during repair, remodeling, or expansion of existing structures. Through the program, provide training to architects and construction workers, build awareness amongst property owners, and provide a funding mechanism to undertake the property improvements. Conduct a pre-feasibility study to develop the program.

. Initiative : Enhance Environmental Quality Action ..: Identifying the areas of industry, business and trade to promote GrEEEn considerations

Being a commercial hub, Hat Yai Municipality can integrate GrEEEn, particularly environmental and social considerations in the economic development of Hat Yai and the surrounding areas. To initiate such activities, a preliminary feasibility study should be prepared to determine which industries and businesses can be the ﬁrst-movers towards GrEEEn practices. Once these are identiﬁed, the actions/measures and how these need to be facilitated should be determined.

For instance, if it is determined that the use of packaging material needs to be reduced, then the study should look at the entire commercial supply chain to identify actions to achieve that target. This will necessarily include substantive awareness building in order to move current practices towards more GrEEEn practices.

Action ..: Interventions with the rubber processing industries

Considering the importance of the U-Tapao Canal for all the cites north of Songkhla Lake, the Hat Yai Municipality should coordinate with the Provincial Waterworks Authority to proactively approach the rubber processing industries and establish a forum of engagement along with the other Municipalities. The purpose of this forum will be to determine ways of ensuring that the e¬uent discharged by these industries is fully treated, and brought up to standards to address the water quality problem at the source itself.

Action ..: Third party water quality monitoring

Presently, the public water utility regularly provides water quality data. In order to verify the results, it will be useful to periodically test the water quality through a third party agency. The tests could also be conducted for the private groundwater sources in Hat Yai. Though the Municipality is not involved with the private agencies, it is responsibility of the Municipality to ensure that water being supplied to its citizens is of good quality. The periodic water quality tests could include physical, chemical and biological parameters. The inclusion of biological parameters will also ensure that water-borne diseases are proactively monitored and preventive action is taken before possible disease outbreak. GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

Action ..: Achieving §§ percent coverage of wastewater collection

For a GrEEEn City, the target should be to provide percent coverage of wastewater collection. Presently, there is a gap of percent for which the existing collection system needs to be expanded and connected to the existing wastewater system. Since the existing wastewater treatment facility has suªcient capacity, it will not need to be expanded to handle the additional wastewater.

Action ..: Increase awareness on waste reduction and segregation

Hat Yai should promote waste reduction and segregation in order to reduce the growing waste management problem. Starting from schools, colleges and other educational institutions to residences and commercial establishments, there should be a strong drive towards reducing waste and segregating waste at source/point of generation. The municipality should partner with the waste recyclers to incentivize schools, youth groups and community groups to undertake waste reduction and segregation at source campaigns.

Action ..: Study the existing landﬁll to plan for future land use and streamlining of septage disposal

Conduct a study to determine how the landfill can be gainfully used to develop public infrastructure such as public parks. The following aspects should be considered: () The landfill has been in use for the last years. Being located on a clayey soil, no lining has been provided and therefore possibility of groundwater contamination, particularly heavy metals, due to the leachate exists; () As the landfill has not adopted sophisticated practices, there is also a possibility of methane being entrapped in the dump yard. Methane emissions having a greenhouse gas potential that is times more potent than carbon dioxide. If any methane is present, it should be captured and used as feasible; ( ) Even the waste-to-energy plant will require area in the landfill for disposal of some waste. Therefore extending the life of the landfill should to be assessed. () The completed sections of the landfill have to be landscaped so that a possible alternative land use, e.g. a park, can be considered.

A pre-feasibility study should be undertaken to ensure that the septage disposal in the landﬁll should be done in a manner that it doesn’t contaminate the groundwater. Given that the landﬁll has already reached its limit, it is desirable to evaluate the current methods in order to see how this can be a streamlined system.

Action ..: Establish an incinerator for bio-medical waste and hazardous waste

Hat Yai city should evaluate the potential of disposing its bio-medical waste and hazardous waste within the city, rather than transporting to a neighboring province. The quantity of these wastes will increase in time and necessitate an incineration facility. The city is currently looking into construct such an incinerator (by ) in the land where the domestic wastewater treatment plant is now located. A preliminary feasibility study has been done and an indicative budget has been provided. Scoping GrEEEn Initiatives for Hat Yai

Action ..: Conduct pilot epidemiology studies relevant to the transboundary movement of air pollution

. Initiative : Promote Low Carbon Growth Action ..: Increase public transportation coverage

With growing population and increase of vehicles, fuel use will continue to be on the rise in cities, leading to increasing amounts of carbon emissions. Traªc congestion further increases fuel consumption. The Songkhla Province has seen a steady increase of registered vehicles. Further, localized congestion is already a problem in Hat Yai. These trends are not expected to change, and as a result, the increased fuel use will result in greater carbon emissions.

One of the proposed recommendations in the Transportation Management Plan prepared for Hat Yai is to establish eight new public bus routes. This measure is aimed at reducing traªc congestion but will also help to reduce transport emissions by reducing reliance on individual vehicles. The city should also ensure that any new buses that are acquired should be fuel-eªcient.

Action ..: Promote energy-eciency in buildings

In cities, buildings are large consumers of electricity and therefore energy. By reducing energy use in buildings, energy would be saved. This will in turn lead to reducing the fossil fuel being used to produce the energy. Through campaigns and incentive mechanisms, energy-eªciency should be promoted in government oªces and facilities, as well as, in large commercial establishments.

Action ..: Promote sustainable consumption

Promote production and consumption of local agricultural products to reduce transportation related energy use. Green spaces including home gardens could be used for urban agriculture and a local green market could be set up to encourage the sale of local agricultural products.

. Initiative : Enhance Land Management

Hat Yai is experiencing rapid population growth. Since the amount of land within the Hat Yai municipality is small in comparison to the demand, urban growth is taking place on the periphery in adjacent municipalities, increasing commuting time and traªc congestion as people continue to work within the city. Hat Yai itself is experiencing scattered large-scale GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

redevelopment that is putting pressure on the open spaces, raising prices of housing and land, and putting pressure on available municipal services.

Action ..: Conduct a land availability assessment to identify developable land within the city

The city should act as a facilitator to guide private investments to the most appropriate locations. To do so, Hat Yai should undertake a land availability assessment to identify vacant or underutilized lands within the city that can be made available for large-scale development (see text box for example). The emphasis should be to identify land where infrastructure is either available or can be made available to accommodate new development. Additionally, the city should create enclaves of high-density areas to promote walkable environments, rather than promoting dispersed development that will increase vehicular traªc.

Land Suitability Assessment in England The National Planning Policy Framework directs local government to undertake land assessments that “identiﬁes a future supply of land which is suitable, available and achievable for housing and economic development use… An assessment should:

• Identify sites and broad locations with potential for development; • Assess their development potential; • Assess their suitability for development and likelihood of development coming forward (the availability and achievability)”

Source [accessed Nov , ]: http://planningguidance. planningportal.gov.uk/blog/guidance/housing-and-economic-land- availability-assessment/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-assessment- of-land-availability/

Action ..: Prepare small area plans for strategic sites where the city wants to promote development

The city should prepare small area plans for strategic sites such as a redevelopment area or a corridor where the city wants to promote development. Through a small area plan, the city can examine the potential connectivity with adjacent parcels, capacity of infrastructure, transportation systems, environmental conditions and urban design and propose recommendations towards the layout of roads location of buildings and to create special places (see Figures . and . for examples). The city has already begun to adopt this planning approach for corridors such as Ratyindee Corridor. This should expanded to other parts of the city as well. Scoping GrEEEn Initiatives for Hat Yai

FigureFigure .... ExampleExample ofof aa FrameworkFramework PlanPlan andand StreetStreet Figure .. Example of a Small Area Plan Emphasizing HeirarchyHeirarchy DiagramDiagram Di¦erent Neighborhood Characteristics

Example of a small area plan to guide redevelopment (Source: http://alexandriava.gov/PotomacYardPlan)

Action ..: Explore redevelopment of slum and low income housing through land readjustment, titling and/or resettlement

The city should undertake an evaluation to determine whether slum or poor housing areas can be upgraded, or whether the city needs to pursue resettlement activities. Based on the evaluation, the city could consider several options such as:

(a) Relocate households living in highly vulnerable ﬂood prone areas; (b) Provide tenure to households that have encroached on public lands that are at relatively low risk to ﬂooding, and particularly if the land is not needed for other public functions; and/or (c) Undertake upgrading of slum areas through land readjustment to extend services such as sewerage to these areas.

Additionally, the government should explore the potential for redeveloping slum areas through private participation. One such example is where a private developer redevelops a slum area with a combination of market rate housing and serviced housing for the slum dwellers. The developer receives the land at a subsidized rate and sells the market rate housing to make a proﬁt. GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

Action ..: Evaluate e«ectiveness, including delivery, of housing improvement ﬁnancing at the community level

The government currently has a community development program to provide housing improvement ﬁnancing to poor households. Evaluate the e¦ectiveness of this program to see if it could be used to facilitate upgrading of larger slum and poor household areas. The city could consider setting up a special urban upgrading fund and promoting competition between di¦erent communities for receiving the special funds.

Action ..: Intensifying Green areas

Given its limited sq.km. area, it will be diªcult to expand Hat Yai’s green spaces. Nevertheless, the city should seek to intensify green spaces. The following should be considered:

• Study the existing green spaces under the Municipality in order to determine the current baseline and how this can be intensiﬁed. Based on the study, policy commitments in terms of preserving the green spaces and also possible public targets for intensiﬁcation should be established. • Given that opportunities for expansion are limited, green belts along canal and road corridors should be pursued (such as in the image below from Hat Yai). Consider using native species that thrive on the local soil as well as enhance the

CO sink potential. • Explore incentives and technologies to establish roof gardens on private properties.

Action ..: Pilot use of green spaces to provide economic value

Green spaces occupy land that has become really expensive within the city. Considering that, it is important to move towards green spaces that have generate economic value in addition to their current recreational/ecological value. Consider the following activities:

• Pilot interspersing ﬂower, fruit and vegetable gardens in existing green spaces that are managed by the Hat Yai Municipality. • Promote home roof-top and kitchen gardens, i.e. in small spaces such as terraces and balconies, through an initial economic incentive program to kick-start a community urban agriculture initiative. The emphasis should be to grow produce organically without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

. Initiative : Pursue Innovative Financing Mechanisms Action ..: Develop proposals for Central Government funding in the direction of becoming a GrEEEn City

To address some of the problems confronting the municipality, the ﬁnancial resources required can be met only through funding from the central government. For instance, addressing the ﬂooding problem requires resources and interdisciplinary coordination and cooperation between central, provincial and the local government. This may be from internal budgets or funds available from external funding sources. Hat Yai Municipality should constantly put together proposals for such funding from the central government. Scoping GrEEEn Initiatives for Hat Yai

Action ..: Establish a separate Cell/Division to raise ﬁnances from the private sector for GrEEEn City initiatives

There are certain investments that the Hat Yai Municipality will have to find resources within the city’s economy. For these investments, the city is unlikely to get support from the central government. Greening along canals in Hat Yai For instance, planting of roadside trees or maintenance of parks require financial resources on an ongoing basis. Other examples include promoting energy-eªciency lighting or improving community waste management in low-income areas. Financial resources could potentially be raised from the private sector. For this purpose, Hat Yai Municipality should consider establishing a separate Cell/Division that works for the GrEEEn City Working Group (see Section ) to streamline both raising the finances, maintaining liaison and overseeing the implementation of these activities.

. Summary of Initiatives, Suggested Timeline and Responsibilities

. Estimated Costs

The estimated costs (Table .) are rough order-of-magnitude costs. These are based on a preliminary understanding of the e¦ort required for preparing additional studies. The TA team has identiﬁed these costs based on previous experiences. However, these costs may change after a detailed scope of work is developed for each task. The estimated costs are based on the assumption that national experts from Thailand will undertake these tasks. All investment costs are based on discussions with the two Municipalities and/or the agencies that are involved with the provision of these urban services. In most cases costs don’t include estimates related to infrastructure provision. GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

Table .:Summary of Initiatives, Related Actions, Potential Beneﬁts and Level of Government Responsible for Leading Implementation

Proposed Initiative/Action Timeline Potential Benefits Responsibility Initiative : Diversify Tourism Opportunities • Prepare a regional tourism strategy to promote Short-term Increase tourism Province complementary assets opportunities Initiative : Promote Living with Floods While Seeking to Reduce Floods • Study alternatives for flood management and Short- to Enhance resilience to Center avoidance Medium-term flooding • Cleaning, dredging and beautification of the canal Short- to Long- Enhance resilience, expand Center term green area • Continuing the “Living with Floods” initiative Short- to Long- Strengthen regional City term cooperation • Develop a ‘flood-proofing’ program to improve Short- to Long- Adapt to flooding City properties that will continue to be flooded term Initiative : Enhance Environmental Quality • Identifying the areas of industry, business and trade Short- to Promote environmental Province to promote GrEEEn considerations Medium-term and social considerations in economic development • Interventions with the rubber processing industries Short-term Reduce water pollution Province • Establish third party water quality monitoring Short- to Improve water resource Province Medium-term management • Achieving ± coverage of wastewater collection Short- to Improve access to National Medium-term municipal services • Awareness on waste reduction and segregation Short- to Reduce waste stream City Medium-term • Study the existing landfill and planning future land Short-term Improve use of land National use, and streamlining septage disposal resources, reduce water pollution • Establish an incinerator for bio-medical waste and Short- to Reduce public health risk National hazardous waste Medium-term • Conducting pilot epidemiology studies relevant to the Short-term Reduce public health risks Province transboundary movement of air pollution Initiative : Promote Low Carbon Growth • Reduce transport emissions Short-term Climate change mitigation City strategy • Promote energy eªciency in buildings Short- to Climate change mitigation City Medium-term strategy • Promote sustainable consumption Short-to Climate change mitigation City Medium-term strategy Initiative : Enhance land management • Conduct a land availability assessment to identify Short-term Promote dense and City developable land in the city walkable areas to improve eªciency of infrastructure • Prepare small area plans for strategic sites where the Short- to Increase land for tourism/ City city wants to promote development Medium-term housing, reduce pressure on open space continued on next page Scoping GrEEEn Initiatives for Hat Yai

Table .continued

Proposed Initiative/Action Timeline Potential Benefits Responsibility • Explore redevelopment of slum and low income Short- to Enhance livability/reduce City housing through land readjustment, titling and/or Medium-term vulnerability for low income resettlement residents • Evaluate e¦ectiveness, including delivery, of housing Short-term Enhance livability for low City improvement financing at the community level income residents • Intensifying green areas Short- to Increase green cover in the City Medium-term city • Pilot use of green space to provide economic value Short- to Increase productivity of City Medium-term green areas Initiative : Pursue Innovative Financing Mechanisms • Establish a structured approach to tap financial Short-term Enhance access to private Province resources from the oil & gas exploration, production sources of funds and service companies • Develop proposals for central government funding Short-term Improve access to central Province for GrEEEn initiatives government funds • Establish a separate cell/division to raise finances Short-term Enhance access to private Province from the private sector for GrEEEn City initiatives sources of funds

Note: Short-term » - years / Medium-term » - years / Long-term » to years.

Table .:Order of Magnitude Cost Estimates for Proposed Initiatives

Proposed Initiative/Action Estimated Costs . Diversify Tourism Opportunities Action : Prepare a regional tourism strategy to promote complementary USD , (Prepare a regional tourism assets strategy) Note: This action is the same as for Songkhla so the total estimated cost is USD , . Promote Living with Floods While Seeking to Reduce Floods Action : Studying alternatives for flood management and avoidance USD , (Cost of study) Action : Cleaning, dredging and beautification of the canal USD , (Cost of study) Action : Continuing the “Living with Floods” initiative USD , (Cost of initiatives/ campaigns) Action : Develop a ‘flood-proofing’ program to improve properties that will USD , (Cost of pre-feasibility study) continue to be flooded . Enhance Environmental Quality Action : Identifying the areas of industry, business and trade to promote USD , (Cost of study) GrEEEn considerations Action : Interventions with the rubber processing industries USD , Action : Third party water quality monitoring USD , Action : Achieving ± coverage of wastewater collection USD million (Infrastructure) Action : Awareness on waste reduction and segregation USD , Action : Studying the existing landfill and planning future land use, and USD , (Cost of study) streamlining septage disposal continued on next page GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

Table .continued

Proposed Initiative/Action Estimated Costs Action : Establishing an incinerator for bio-medical waste and hazardous USD , (Cost of feasibility study) waste Action : Conducting pilot epidemiology studies relevant to the USD , (Cost of study) transboundary movement of air pollution . Promote Low Carbon Growth Action : Reducing transport emissions USD , (Cost of study) Action : Promoting energy-eªciency in buildings USD , (Campaign) Action : Promote sustainable consumption USD , (Campaign) . Enhance Land Management Action : Conduct a land availability assessment to identify developable land USD , (Cost of study) within the city Action : Prepare small area plans for strategic sites where the city wants to USD , (Cost per plan) promote development Action : Explore redevelopment of slum and low income housing through USD , (Study) land readjustment, titling and/or resettlement Action : Evaluate e¦ectiveness, including delivery, of housing improvement No estimate ﬁnancing at the community level Action : Intensifying green areas USD , (Pilot program) Action : Pilot use of green space to provide economic value USD , (Pilot program) : Pursue Innovative Financing Mechanisms Action : Develop proposals for Central Government funding in the direction USD , (Cost of study) of becoming a GrEEEn City Action : Establish a separate Cell/Division to raise ﬁnances from the private USD , (Cost of study) sector for GrEEEn City initiatives Institutional Arrangements for Implementation

. GrEEEn City Working Group

The Songkhla Province Governor has appointed a working group with responsibilities to support the GrEEEn City activities for Songkhla and Hat Yai, as part of the IMT-GT Green Cities Initiative. The responsibilities of the working group are deﬁned as follows:

. Set up framework and related activity with local organizations . Support the academic cooperation as to work with the framework . Provide suggestions in any working process . Service the working team from both central government and international while working in the area . Perform and work in any related duties and tasks that was responsible

Representatives from the national government departments, provincial government, Mueang Songkhla and Hat Yai municipal governments, universities, chamber of commerce, and industries, have been appointed to the working group. In addition, the Governor has appointed a smaller committee of members who are directly responsible for coordinating with the ADB team on the preparation of the GCAP.

. Measures to Support Implementation

While the composition of the working group supports an integrated and multi-sectoral approach, as promoted by the GrEEEn City framework, additional measures are necessary to overcome the challenges that may be associated with moving ahead on implementation.

Dedicated budget

The provincial government, with support from the national government, should assign a dedicated budget to cover the operational costs of the working group. The budget should be assigned for a three-year period to jump-start the implementation process. This will ensure that costs associated with managing additional studies, including data collection, stakeholder consultations, or regular meeting costs are not coming from individual department resources, but from a centralized stream of funding. During the three-year period, the working groups should research and identify alternative sources and mechanisms for funding grEEEn projects.

ª Songkhla Province Directive No. «/ and Songkhla Province Directive No. «/ GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities

Capacity Building

Lack of awareness, including experience and knowledge, is a fundamental limitation towards pursuing grEEEn actions. With support from the national government and the IMT-GT, undertake capacity building initiatives to train municipal and province level sta¦ on the following topics:

• Project preparation including feasibility assessment from a multi-sectoral perspective; • Technical knowledge on innovative tools and methodologies related to integrated planning and development (e.g., use of web-based Geographic Information System for land assessments and land management); • Financial instruments such as, public-private partnerships (PPP), and micro-ﬁnance; • Participatory approaches towards decision-making including methods and processes for stakeholder engagement (e.g. use of surveys, focus groups, or community scorecards to gain an understanding of local knowledge and preferences)

Urban Management Partnerships

The ADB promotes Urban Management Partnerships (UMPs), “to build a city’s capacity to implement priority initiatives identiﬁed in its GCAP. These priority initiatives can be limited to one sector (e.g., introducing cleaner public transportation options) or it can involve cross-sectoral green development initiatives to revitalize strategic areas or municipal assets (e.g., revitalizing a river). The UMP design is ﬂexible and scalable …. The partnership brings together several components needed to create an enabling environment for GrEEEn Cities and to provide technical support and a knowledge-sharing platform for implementing the projects.”

The ADB will support an Urban Management Partnership (UMP) to foster peer-to-peer learning between Songkhla/Hat Yai and another city that showcases leadership in urban transformation. The working group should identify one topic area where Songkhla or Hat Yai can beneﬁt from gaining ﬁrst-hand knowledge from another city.

Potential opportunities to set up a UMP for Songkhla or Hat Yai could focus on one of the following topics:

. Nomination process for a UNESCO World Heritage City designation (Songkhla) . Living with ﬂoods (Hat Yai) . Regional tourism strategy . Enhanced land management (could focus on examples of land transfers from the national to the local government, or instruments to manage spot development)

« The IMT-GT is supporting a GrEEEn City Knowledge Center that will develop knowledge products and training on grEEEn practices. The Center will be established in Melaka, Malaysia. Sandhu, S; and Naik Singru, R. . Enabling GrEEEn Cities: An Operational Framework, Working Paper Series. Southeast Asia Department. Asian Development Bank. Manila. Institutional Arrangements for Implementation

. Next Steps

The GCAP provides an initial set of initiatives and actions to put Mueang Songkhla and Hat Yai on a path to become GrEEEn Cities. The working group should initiate the following next steps to move ahead with implementation of the GCAP (see Figure .):

. Prioritize Actions – The working group should define a process and criteria to evaluate and prioritize initiatives and actions. The working group should apply the criteria to evaluate the initial list of initiatives identified in the GCAP. . Costs and cumulative benefits – Once the actions are prioritized, the working group should develop the actions in greater detail. As part of further development, the working group should evaluate the costs and cumulative benefits of the actions across the three Es. . Stakeholder engagement – The working group should reach out to the private sector and residents in both cities to seek partnerships towards implementation. The GCAP provides an initial platform to initiate discussions on the mechanisms of partnerships (volunteerism, donation of resources, etc.). . Baseline data and monitoring mechanism – With support from the national government and the IMT-GT, the working groups should establish a set of indicators for Songkhla and Hat Yai to evaluate the status and progress towards becoming a GrEEEn City. The working group should consider engaging with one of the local universities, which has expertise in data management, to undertake this task. The working group should also establish a monitoring mechanism to evaluate progress being made as a result of implementing grEEEn actions.

Figure .:Next Steps

GCAP

Project Prioritization and Assessment

Implementation INDONESIA-MALAYSIA-THAILAND GROWTH TRIANGLE GrEEEn City Action Plan for Songkhla and Hat Yai Municipalities