EIA for the Proposed Development of 3 Blocks of Staff Residences and Other Amenities on PT 313, Bandar Padang Mat Sirat, District of Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I. Introduction to the Proposed Project This Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report is prepared for the “Proposed Development of 3 Blocks of Staff Residences and Other Amenities on PT 313, Bandar Padang Mat Sirat, District of Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman”. The proposed Project will be developed on a total acreage of 1.50 acre (0.61 ha) of approved alienated land. The whole area is owned and to be developed by Pusaka Menawan Sdn. Bhd. the development is strictly restricted to providing staff facilities for the redevelopment of Tanjung Sanctuary Langkawi (new Ritz Carlton Hotel). The Project Site is within Bandar Padang Mat Sirat and falls under the jurisdiction of Majlis Perbandaran Langkawi (MPL). A Site Suitability Assessment (Penilaian Awal Tapak) has been submitted to the Department of Environment (DOE) Kedah on July 14th, 2013. The department has no objection to the proposed development via its letter dated 28th July 2013 [AS(LKW)(B)50/012/102/007 Jilid 37(16)]. The Project Site is located on a flat sandy area near river mouth of Sungai Melaka. It is located about 15 km from Kuah town and 2 km from Langkawi International Airport plying Jalan Kuala Muda. The Project Site is geographically located at: Longitude Latitude 99 O 42’ 58.57”E 6O 21’ 24.13” N 99 O 43’ 1.28”E 6O 21’ 24.10” N 99 O 42’ 59.72”E 6O 21’ 21.88” N 99 O 43’ 2.27”E 6O 21’ 22.21” N The general location of the Project is depicted in Figure A . At present, the Project Site is a flat sandy soil dominated by shrubs and bushes. Current condition on site is depicted in Figure B . The Proposed Project is a prescribed activity stipulated in the Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 1987 under item no. 17(a) (coastal resort facilities or hotels with more than 80 rooms) made under Section 34A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974. EUROPASIA ENGINEERING SERVICES SDN. BHD. i EIA for the Proposed Development of 3 Blocks of Staff Residences and Other Amenities on PT 313, Bandar Padang Mat Sirat, District of Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman. Based on the ‘Rancangan Tempatan Daerah Langkawi 2020’, the proposed Project Site lies under Blok Perancangan (BP) 10 – Kuala Teriang in BPK 10.2, whereby the area is designated for Commercial and Services. The parties involved in this redevelopment are:- i) Developer PUSAKA MENAWAN SDN. BHD. c/o Tanjung Sanctuary Langkawi P.O. Box 199 Jalan Pantai Kok, Teluk Nibung 07000 Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman Tel: 04 – 952 0222; Fax: 04- 952 0333 Attn: Tn. Hj. Azmi Bin Abdul Ghani (Executive Director) ii) Civil and Structural Engineer MEINHARDT (MALAYSIA) SDN. BHD. Suite 9.01-9.07, Level 9 AMODA, 22 Jalan Imbi 55100 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 03-2710 9488; Fax: 03-2710 9489 Attn.: Ir. Muhammad Sobri Bin Abd. Gani (Deputy Managing Director) EUROPASIA ENGINEERING SERVICES SDN. BHD. ii EIA for the Proposed Development of 3 Blocks of Staff Residences and Other Amenities on PT 313, Bandar Padang Mat Sirat, District of Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman. Figure A: General Location of the Project Site EUROPASIA ENGINEERING SERVICES SDN. BHD. iii EIA for the Proposed Development of 3 Blocks of Staff Residences and Other Amenities on PT 313, Bandar Padang Mat Sirat, District of Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman. Figure B: Current Situation of the Project Site EUROPASIA ENGINEERING SERVICES SDN. BHD. iv EIA for the Proposed Development of 3 Blocks of Staff Residences and Other Amenities on PT 313, Bandar Padang Mat Sirat, District of Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman. iii) Mechanical and Electrical Engineer MEINHARDT (MALAYSIA) SDN. BHD. Suite 9.01-9.07, Level 9 AMODA, 22 Jalan Imbi 55100 Kuala Lumpur Tel: 03-2710 9488; Fax: 03-2710 9489 Attn.: Ir. Peter Lee Y. W. (Director) iv) Planning Consultant MHHR CONSULTANT SDN. BHD. No.1118C, Tingkat C Kompleks Alor Setar Lebuhraya Darulaman 05100 Alor Star, Kedah Darul Aman Tel: 04-730 0642; Fax: 04-731 8942 Attn.: Hj. Haji Bin Hj. Ramli (Director) vi) Environmental Consultant EUROPASIA ENGINEERING SERVICES SDN. BHD. (239233-K) No. 63A-2 & 65-2, Petaling Utama Avenue, Jalan PJS1/50,Taman Petaling Utama, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel. : 03-7783 3639/40; Fax. : 03-7784 3200 Attn. : Ms. Geetha P. Kumaran (C0020) (EIA Study Team Leader) EUROPASIA ENGINEERING SERVICES SDN. BHD. v EIA for the Proposed Development of 3 Blocks of Staff Residences and Other Amenities on PT 313, Bandar Padang Mat Sirat, District of Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman. v) Appointment of Accredited Analytical Laboratory SPECTRUM LABORATORIES (PENANG) SDN. BHD. (SAMM NO.: 062) 1904, Tkt.1, Jalan Bukit Minyak, Taman Sri Mangga, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Seberang Perai Tengah, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Tel.: 604-507 5168; Fax.: 604-507 4243 Attn.: Mr. C. M. Ong (Manager/Chemist) II. Existing Environment Physical Environment a. Topography • The site’s geomorphology comprises low-lying ground of river estuary. • The highest ground (approximately 3.682m above mean sea level) lies at the earth bund along the southwestern portion of the Project Site while the lowest ground (approximately 0.462m above msl) lies after the earth bunds in the southwestern boundary of the Project Site. b. Coastal/Offshore Bathymetry • The coast is characterized by the sea, forming numerous rock headlands with small closed systems sandy pocket beaches form in between. At present the beach has no reported erosion conditions. None are thought to be imminent. • Shoreline materials of the Project Site are bedrock and sand. The sand is predominately quartz and calcareous material as well. c. Hydrology • There is one (1) main river and one seasonal earth drain flowing through the Project Site. • The main river within the Project Site is Sg. Melaka which originates from the Gunung Raya, flows westwards and drains at the southern portion of the Project Site prior to discharging into the sea. It is approximately 13km in length, with a catchment of 64.85 km 2 (16023.80 Acres). • The earth drain within the Project Site drains at the eastern boundary of the Project Site before flowing directly into Kuala Sg. Melaka. • The seasonal streams are observed to have flowing waters whenever it rains. EUROPASIA ENGINEERING SERVICES SDN. BHD. vi EIA for the Proposed Development of 3 Blocks of Staff Residences and Other Amenities on PT 313, Bandar Padang Mat Sirat, District of Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman. d. Geology and Soil • The entire Project Site is situated on the unconsolidated and semi-consolidated marine coastal sand which known as Gula Formation. • The deposits of Gula Formation vary from pure coarse and fine sand to pure silt or clay. e. Soil Investigations • A soil investigation (SI) of the Project Site was carried out by Deep Rocks Sdn. Bhd. on October to November 2012 under the supervision of Meinhardt (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. • Based on SI results including 8 numbers of boreholes, 40 numbers of Mackintosh probes and laboratory tests, the subsurface of the Project Site comprises silty CLAY and clayey SILT with sand which is generally stiff to very stiff. f. Groundwater • Based on the Hydrogeological Map of Kedah (2008) published by Jabatan Mineral and Geosains (JMG) Malaysia, the Project Site is located on high potential aquifer regime of this region. g. Landuse • The surrounding areas are mainly surrounded by villages and resorts. The project Site is located within Kg. Kuala Melaka area. Kg. Kuala Teriang and Kg. Sg. Sedak are located towards to northwest of the project Site. Meanwhile, a few resorts are located to the south of the Project Site i.e. Kuala Melaka Inn, Langkawi Lagoon Resort and Perdana Beach Resort. • For this EIA study, the area within the arbitrary radius of 5km from the Project boundary has been defined as the impact area. The total acreage that is covered by the 5km radius is 20,264.51 acres (8,200.8 ha). • Assessment on the land use shows that the predominant type of land use setting within the total impact area is water body which covers 38.97% or 3,196.13 ac of the 5km radius from the Project boundary. The water body is represented by Straits of Malacca. • The other predominant land is Agricultural land make up about 8,806.99 acres or 28.66% of the total impact areas. The types of agricultural crops noted on this land use were mixed horticulture, agriculture stations, rubber, orchards, paddy, pastura and ruminant plants. • Forest area makes up about 28.53% or 5,781.54 acres of the total impact area. Bukit Sawak Forest Reserve which is situated on the northern portion of the Project Site dominates the forest area. EUROPASIA ENGINEERING SERVICES SDN. BHD. vii EIA for the Proposed Development of 3 Blocks of Staff Residences and Other Amenities on PT 313, Bandar Padang Mat Sirat, District of Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman. • Settlements and non-agricultural areas make up the other major land use within the 5 km impact areas, which includes urban and recreation areas, main roads and quarry and ex-quarries area. The total acreage involved for this type of land use is 657.58 acres or 3.24%. Existing nearest receptors with distances to the Project Site is shown in Figure C. EUROPASIA ENGINEERING SERVICES SDN. BHD. viii EIA for the Proposed Development of 3 Blocks of Staff Residences and Other Amenities on PT 313, Bandar Padang Mat Sirat, District of Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman. Figure C: Distance to the Nearest Receptors of the Project Site EUROPASIA ENGINEERING SERVICES SDN.