EIA for the Proposed Commercial and Residential Development at Kampung Sungai Buah, Mukim Dengkil, District of Sepang, Selangor Darul Ehsan for Tristar Acres 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 Dengkil, District of Sepang, 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 410.53 acres (166.14 ha) on Lot 1780, Lot 2009, Lot 2010, Lot 1541, Lot 1125, Lot 1511, Lot 1108, Lot 1109, Lot 1107, Lot 4438 and Lot 2017, Kampung Sungai Buah, Mukim Dengkil, District of Sepang, Selangor Darul Ehsan and to be developed by Tristar Acres Sdn. Bhd. The need for the proposed Project is based on the following rationale and further elaborated in Table 2.1 . EUROPASIA ENGINEERING SERVICES SDN. BHD. 2-1 EIA for the Proposed Commercial and Residential Development at Kampung Sungai Buah, Mukim Dengkil, District of Sepang, Selangor Darul Ehsan for Tristar Acres Sdn. Bhd. Table 2.1: Statement of Need Aspect Description Strategic Location & • Well-established road accessibility, i.e. assessable via Kuala High Accessibility Lumpur-Seremban Highway, Jalan Bangi and Jalan Kajang – ensures the Dengkil (connects the proposed project site to Bandar Bangi marketability of the and Bangi town) within its vicinity and efficient communication Project system surrounding, to and from the Project Site. • Will cater to Bandar Baru Bangi, Putrajaya, Cyberjaya and surrounding build-up area population catchment. Landuse • Commercial development would upgrade the economic state of Optimization would land. increase the land • The proposed Project will optimize the usage of land, which is value and give higher presently covered with oil palm plantation. 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 Taman Desa Sentosa would maximize the usage of existing infrastructure in Bangi, Kajang and Sepang. • The development will indirectly increase the value of property in the surrounding areas. Other Supporting • Expands the employment market ranging from laborers (i.e. Matters construction 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. Environmental • From an ecological point of view, the current biodiversity of the Consideration flora and fauna composition of the site will be slightly affected as the current secondary vegetation 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. EUROPASIA ENGINEERING SERVICES SDN. BHD. 2-2 EIA for the Proposed Commercial and Residential Development at Kampung Sungai Buah, Mukim Dengkil, District of Sepang, Selangor Darul Ehsan for Tristar Acres Sdn. Bhd. • The project site is potential for a township development due to its location, surrounding development and property demand specifically from areas like Bangi, Kajang, Putrajaya, Cyberjaya and Seremban. • The project site has ease of accessibility with the available road networks and highways nearby the project site allow access to the south, north and Kuala Lumpur city centre. 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 specialization x. Leveraging on our diversity internationally Towards transforming Malaysia into a high-income economy, strategy is mainly focused to build density, develop clusters and specialize 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 urbanization 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 Growing cities, ever more mobile people and increasingly specialized 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), EUROPASIA ENGINEERING SERVICES SDN. BHD. 2-3 EIA for the Proposed Commercial and Residential Development at Kampung Sungai Buah, Mukim Dengkil, District of Sepang, Selangor Darul Ehsan for Tristar Acres Sdn. Bhd. 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 (NPP) 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 propose project site is located at the Central region within the Kuala Lumpur Conurbation (i.e., federal territory of Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Seremban) (Refer 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 should aim to create urban centres offering all residents within urban areas a high quality of life and acceptable level of facilities such as schools, colleges, hospitals and as well as good quality urban transport and utilities. Thus, being part of the National Growth Conurbation plays an important role for the growth of the proposed project area. EUROPASIA ENGINEERING SERVICES SDN. BHD. 2-4 EIA for the Proposed Commercial and Residential Development at Kampung Sungai Buah, Mukim Dengkil, District of Sepang, Selangor Darul Ehsan for Tristar Acres Sdn. Bhd. 2.3.2 Selangor Structure Plan 2020 The proposed development compliments the Selangor Structure