EIA for the Proposed Development at Mukim Rawang, District Of Gombak, Selangor Darul Ehsan for Temasek Ekslusif Sdn Bhd. CHAPTER STATEMENT OF NEED AND PROJECT 2 OPTIONS 2.1 Introduction This chapter highlights the need to establish the Proposed mixed development and the available project options in the Project area. The first part would discuss the Project description, its effect on the local environment, social and economic factors that support the proposed Project. It is essential to look into these factors in order to predict the success of the Project while giving enough consideration to attain long–term sustainable environment in Mukim Rawang, District of Gombak, Selangor Darul Ehsan. The following subsection of this chapter will discuss two (2) opposing scenarios. The “No-Project” option will focus on the adverse effect of the Project that may affect local population and the environment, which eventually will lead to Project cancellation. The other option similar to the first subsection of the chapter that lists out all the possible benefits of the Project those are likely to be considered. In both cases, any benefits or opportunities lost with each selection are made known in order to achieve at the most feasible development option. 2.2 Statement of Need The proposed mixed development will be carried out on an area of 795.93 acres (322.10ha) on Lots Proposed Mixed Development on Lots 3804, 35190 (3805), 3806, 3807, 35193 (3808), 35192 (3812), 35191 (3813), 35182 (3814), 35183 (3815), 3817, 35188 (3818), 35185 (3819), 35184 (3820), 3821, 35189 (3822), 3823, 3825 - 3829, 35180 (3831), 35181 (3832), 35179 (3833), 3836 - 3838, 4158 - 4180, 4182 - 4192, 4195, 4196, 4284- 4288, 4494 - 4513, 4515 - 4556, 4739, 4822 -4825, 26376 - 26370, 84171-84174, 84184 - 84186, 84298, 84299, 84306, 84311, 84500 and part of Government Land, Mukim Rawang, District Of Gombak, Selangor Darul Ehsan, and to be developed by Temasek Ekslusif Sdn. Bhd. The need for the proposed Project is based on the following rationale and further elaborated in Table 2.1 . • The project site is potential for a township development due to its location, surrounding development and property demand specifically from areas like Rawang, Batu Arang and Sg.Buloh. EUROPASIA ENGINEERING SERVICES SDN. BHD. 2-1 EIA for the Proposed Development at Mukim Rawang, District Of Gombak, Selangor Darul Ehsan for Temasek Ekslusif Sdn Bhd. • The project site has ease of accessibility with the available road networks and highways nearby the project site allow access to the north, Kuala Lumpur city centre, Subang and Shah Alam. • The project site is surrounded by residential area i.e. Kundang Jaya, Bandar Baru Kundang, Desa Kundang, Bandar Country Homes, Taman Velox, Emerald East and West and Rawang Saujana that is well established with infrastructures and utilities Table 2.1: Statement of Need Aspect Description Strategic Location & • Well-established road accessibility, i.e. assessable via State Road B27 at the High Accessibility north of the Project Site that is also connected to North–South Highway from ensures the Rawang Toll, which is the main highway that connects the Project Site with marketability of the Kuala Lumpur. Project • Batu Arang, Batang Berjuntai, Kuang, Rawang, within its vicinity and efficient communication system surrounding, to and from the Project Site. • Will cater to Batu Arang, Kuang, Rawang and Sg.Buloh surrounding build-up area population catchment. Landuse Optimization • Commercial development would upgrade the economic state of land. would increase the land • The proposed Project will optimize the usage of land, which is presently value and give higher covered with rubber trees and shrubs with thick undergrowth. revenue to the owner • The proposed development will serve to fulfill the demand for housing in the area towards year 2020. • Congruent with the surrounding area landuse which consist of new residential developments as Bandar Country Homes, Emerald East and West, Rawang Saujana, Puteri Heights, Bandar Tasik Puteri, would maximize the usage of existing infrastructure in Rawang, Batu Arang, Kuang and Sg.Buloh town. • The development will indirectly increase the value of property in the surrounding areas. Other Supporting • Expands the employment market ranging from laborers (i.e. construction Matters phase) to office/clerical works (i.e. operational phase of the commercial enterprises) and • Increase in state and nation’s revenue through issuance of licenses and collection of taxes. • To provide sufficient housing for the various socio-economic groups of society especially the middle class to own a house at the surrounding area. EUROPASIA ENGINEERING SERVICES SDN. BHD. 2-2 EIA for the Proposed Development at Mukim Rawang, District Of Gombak, Selangor Darul Ehsan for Temasek Ekslusif Sdn Bhd. Aspect Description Environmental • From an ecological point of view, the current biodiversity of the flora and fauna Consideration composition of the site will be slightly affected as the current rubber trees and secondary vegetations will have to be sacrificed during the construction state. However, the implementation of a proper landscaping programme can ensure that the area remains a green-hub. • The proposed development includes in its concept the development of lush green areas/ buffer zone or landscaped areas, and this is conducive for healthy living and further improves/reduces the anticipated urban pollution (i.e. air, noise, water, etc.) generated. 2.3 Current Development Policy In the Tenth Malaysian Plan 2011-2015, efforts have been initiated to enable the nation to be a high- income economy and developed nation by 2020 and this has been encapsulated in 10 big deals: i. Internally driven, externally aware ii. Ensuring equality of opportunities and safeguarding the vulnerable iii. Supporting effective and smart partnerships iv. Government as a competitive corporation v. Valuing our environmental endowments vi. Concentrated growth, inclusive development vii. Nurturing, attracting and retaining top talent viii. Unleashing productivity-led growth and innovation ix. Transforming to high-income through specialisation x. Leveraging on our diversity internationally Towards transforming Malaysia into a high-income economy, strategy is mainly focused to build density, develop clusters and specialise in high value sectors. The concentration of firms and talent supports faster economic growth, primarily by reaping the benefits of agglomeration of scale, productivity and innovation. People cluster towards cities as higher density promotes higher wages and economic opportunities. A major factor in driving the increase in average income of Malaysians over the past few decades has been the increasing urbanisation of the population. By 2020 approximately 70% of Malaysia’s population will be concentrated in urban areas and, therefore, the challenge is to facilitate this increasing density in cities and urban conurbations. EUROPASIA ENGINEERING SERVICES SDN. BHD. 2-3 EIA for the Proposed Development at Mukim Rawang, District Of Gombak, Selangor Darul Ehsan for Temasek Ekslusif Sdn Bhd. Growing cities, ever more mobile people and increasingly specialised products are integral to development. A policy priority in the Tenth Plan will be to enhance the liveability of cities. Major initiatives have been identified under the National Key Result Areas (NKRAs), particularly to address crime and improve public transportation in major urban centres. Liveability, however, encapsulates a broader concept, in terms of striving for a vibrant environment to live, work and play. Such a holistic approach is important, specifically in the context of attracting top talent to Malaysian cities, in order to drive strategic growth sectors. 10 th Malaysian Plan has transformed the current approach from segregating the functions of developments towards landuse: residential, commercial and industrial to mixed development that promotes residential, working environment, recreational activities in the same area. Further, township is designed to reduce the travelling distance and encouraging public integration which is most likely to be achieved by the establishment of mixed developments that consist of residential, commercial, institutions, utilities and infrastructures. 2.3.1 National Physical Plan 2 (NPP 2) The main thrust of National Physical Plan 2 (NPP2) is to concentrate the nation’s scarce resources to a few priority urban centres with the greatest growth potential for job creation along with the key economic corridors while protecting the rural areas and natural environment in conjunction with the ‘Concentrated Decentralisation’ Development strategy. The proposed project site falls within the North-South Corridor categorized under the Main Development Corridor. The proposed project site is located at the Central region within the Kuala Lumpur Conurbation (i.e., Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Seremban) (refer to Figure 2.1 ). Due to rapid growth of urban areas and concentration of growth on existing large urban centres of activities, most of urban population is anticipated to be living and working in four major conurbations of Kuala Lumpur, Georgetown, Johor Bahru and Kuantan. These four conurbations are seen as the main engines of growth to generate the required jobs and enhance high income, thus ensuring quality of life for all living areas and the conurbations are expected to contain almost 70% of the urban population of the Peninsular by 2020.Therefore spatial planning