Executive Summary Es
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ES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Proposed Pahang Technology Park, Gambang, Pahang Darul Makmur Environmental Impact Assessment EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION 1. This report presents the findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study that was carried out to assess the potential environmental impacts that could arise from the Proposed Pahang Technology Park, Gambang, Pahang Darul Makmur. Hereinafter it will be known as the “Project”. 2. The EIA is a requirement under Section 34A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 as the proposed Project is under Item 17 – Industrial Estate Development of the First Schedule of the Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 2015. 3. The Project Proponent and the correspondence address is as below: East Coast Economic Region Development Council Level 22, Menara 3 PETRONAS, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur. Tel : +603-2035 0000 Fax : +603-2035 0020 Email : [email protected] Contact person: Ir. Mamman K.T. George Position: General Manager, Project Implementation II 4. The consultant undertaking this EIA is: ERE Consulting Group Sdn. Bhd. 9, Jalan USJ 21/6, 47630 Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel : +603-8024 2287 Fax : +603-8024 2320 Email : [email protected] Contact person: Mr. Khoo Boon Keat 5. The Project is sited on Lots 49652, 49654, 49655 and 49656 with an area of 461.76 ha at Gambang, Kuantan. The Project site is accessible either from the East Coast Expressway (E8) or from Jalan Kuantan-Gambang (FR2) (Figure ES-1). The Project site is located about 30 km from Kuantan. ERE Consulting Group ES-1 Issue 1.0/ October 2015 Proposed Pahang Technology Park, Gambang, Pahang Darul Makmur Environmental Impact Assessment EXECUTIVE SUMMARY STATEMENT OF NEED 6. The East Coast Economic Region (ECER) Master Plan was formulated to identify high-impact projects that will spur development of the region until the year 2020. In this Master Plan, it has been identified that a technology park would be established within the ECER with the specific focus to promote and enhance the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in this region. 7. Over the past four decades, the Government has been developing the Malaysian ICT industry, by financial investment as well as strategic Government focus. With the vision of achieving a knowledge economy status, Malaysia is transforming itself from an agriculture-based economy to an industrial-based economy, with ICT being one of the key enablers of this transformation. This has been reflected in the Sixth Malaysia Plan (1990- 1995), Seventh Malaysia Plan (1996-2000), Eighth Malaysia Plan (2001- 2005), Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010), Tenth Malaysia Plan (2011-2015) and 11th Malaysia Plan (2016-2020). 8. The sustained support and initiative from the Government has led to accelerated growth in the ICT industry, where as a whole, stood at RM 96.5 billion in 2012, and is expected to have Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.1% between 2013 to 2020, mainly in telecommunication services. The proposed Pahang Technology Park in Gambang will be centered on key global IT industry megatrends that will define the ICT sector for years to come. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Project Concept 9. The Project shall be a focal point for innovation, and a physical site place that supports university-industry and government collaboration with the intent of creating high technology economic development and advancing knowledge. 10. The Project offers a number of shared resources, such as incubators, programs and collaboration activities, uninterruptible power supply, telecommunication hubs, reception and security, management offices, restaurants, bank offices, convention center, internal transportation with parking facilities, entertainment and sports facilities. ERE Consulting Group ES-2 Issue 1.0/ October 2015 Proposed Pahang Technology Park, Gambang, Pahang Darul Makmur Environmental Impact Assessment EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 11. The development of the entire Project shall be of mixed used to include facilities for: Clean Industry Innovation facilities – labs, incubators, etc. Academic institutions Training facilities Business facilities Residential facilities Living amenities Lifestyle amenities 12. The industries hosted by this park shall be clean and technology based industries and data centers, without the typical emission of smoke from stacks, wastewater discharges or generation of toxic/ scheduled wastes. 13. The development of the Project has been divided into three phases, commencing with the nucleus zone (Phase 1A and Phase 1B), and subsequently Phases 2 and 3. The preliminary design has been carried out for the components within Nucleus Zone only (Chart ES-1). Chart ES-1 Overall Layout Concept Phase 1B Main Service Center (Lot 49654) Phase 2 (Future Development) Phase 1A Local Service Local Service Center Center (Lot 49655) (Lot 49652) Phase 3 (Future Development) Main Service Center (Lot 49656) Source: PAG Consult Sdn. Bhd. (2015) ERE Consulting Group ES-3 Issue 1.0/ October 2015 Proposed Pahang Technology Park, Gambang, Pahang Darul Makmur Environmental Impact Assessment EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Project Components 14. The core of the technology park will be driven by ICT. The Project consists of enterprise/ industrial, mixed used/ commercial, residential, amenities, utilities, gold course, open space, water bodies and road reserve/ parking. 15. The Project is dominated by enterprise/ industrial (133.55 ha), followed by open space (77.41 ha), road reserve/ parking (73.14 ha) and mixed used/ commercial (66.41 ha). 16. The industrial area has been earmarked for light industry where the types of industries such as light manufacturing facilities for Electrical and Electronic devices like nano-electronics, flexible electronics, Internet of Things (IOT) devices and such which are considered clean. The platform as well as the infrastructure and public amenities for the industrial area will be prepared and sold to the investors. 17. The mixed used/ commercial areas comprise education/ learning and development centers, government one-stop support centers, secondary business support services centers, administration buildings, etc. 18. The Project has reserved 41 ha for amenities and utilities which includes community facilities, water tank, sewage treatment plants, power stations, sport complex, police station, clinics, etc. 19. A total area of 100 ha has been retained for the conservation of existing rivers and lakes as well as open spaces. The lake will serve as retention ponds as well as recreational green areas and provide higher land and aesthetic value to the Project site. 20. A golf course and club house have been proposed under the Phase 2 development, next to the residential areas providing a good aesthetic view to the residents. About 28 ha has been allotted as residential areas to be developed during Phase 2 and Phase 3. 21. The development of the Project has been divided into three phases, commencing with the Nucleus Zone (Phases 1A and 1B), and subsequently Phases 2 and 3 (the two extended plots - Lots 49655 and 49656). 22. Presently, preliminary design has been carried out for the components within Nucleus Zone only, while the design for Phases 2 and 3 will only be carried out at later stage. Therefore, this EIA will focus mainly on the activities in the Nucleus Zone. ERE Consulting Group ES-4 Issue 1.0/ October 2015 Proposed Pahang Technology Park, Gambang, Pahang Darul Makmur Environmental Impact Assessment EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Design Considerations 23. The existing ground level ranges from 30 m to 100 m with a lower elevation at the river basin on Lot 49655 and Lot 49656. The preliminary earthworks design was carried out based on the following criteria: Gradient to suit the needs for roads, sewerage, water supply and drainage design Economic considerations for building foundations Flood levels Natural terrain 24. The site covers a slope gradient ranging from flat areas (<10°) to steep slope (25° – 35°). More than 99% of the site is on Class I (<15°) slope, with less than 2 ha (0.4%) on Class II slope and about 0.9 ha (0.2%) of the site are under Class III (25° – 35°) slope, which is located at the hilly areas on Lot 49652. The buildings of the Project have been sited within Class I and II areas, which is deemed suitable for development. Supporting Infrastructure and Utilities 25. The drainage system includes one retention pond for Phase 1A and two retention ponds for Phase 1B. 26. Two sewage treatment plants (STPs) (with the design capacity of 15,000 P.E. and 40,000 P.E. respectively) and two pumping stations will be constructed for the nucleus zone (Phase 1A) and northern zone (Phase 1B). The sewerage reticulation, pump house and STP will be independent and designed to cater for the demands of each phase only. 27. Two elevated water tanks will be constructed during Phase 1A and Phase 1B. The water demand for Phase 1A is 3.0 ML per day while the demand for Phase 1B is 7.5 ML per day. The water supply system for Phase 2 and Phase 3 will be constructed in stages to cater for each development phase. 28. A PPU will be constructed at Phase 1A and a PMU will be constructed at Phase 1B to supply electricity for the respective phases to cater for the electricity demand of 19 MVA and 58 MVA. 29. The telecommunication infrastructure provided will be the interactive multimedia services, advances telephony and data services and High Speed Broadband services based on 4-G (or higher when available) mobile technology. ERE Consulting Group ES-5 Issue 1.0/ October 2015 Proposed Pahang Technology Park, Gambang, Pahang Darul Makmur Environmental Impact Assessment EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 30. The proposed internal road will connect to the existing Persiaran Bandar Gambang. A bridge across the East Coast Expressway will be constructed to connect the Phases 1A and 1B of the Project site. Principal Project Activities Pre-Construction Phase 31. The pre-construction phase activities would include preliminary studies for the Project design, preparation and surveying, soil investigation studies and sampling of river water, air and noise and relocation of utilities; all of which have very minimal impacts.