Kg Ayer revival planned as part of BSB Master Plan

Low Leng May
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

KAMPONG Ayer will be turned into a revived centre of Bruneian heritage, as part of a project in the Bandar Seri Begawan Development Master Plan, an officer from the Municipal Department said.

At the civic course for undergraduates, Municipal Department administrative officer, Shahminan Hj Tengah, presented an overview of projects in store or in the pipeline to be implemented in the capital.

As an initiative to revive the water village, multiple projects have been planned to enhance the cultural features and improve the development and structure of the Bruneian landmark. This is done with the aim of turning the capital into a "livable city" with a "uniquely Bruneian identity" and "sustainable economic community" Shahminan said in the presentation.

Currently being proposed into the project were a Heritage Boutique Resort, Mangrove Spa Resort, Artist Village and Studios, a neighbourhood centre, and Tamoi Craft Centre among others.

Shahminan revealed in the presentation that there were also talks on reviving a floating market, developing a new technical college and a Kampong Ayer Hill Park.

"Kampong Ayer is our national heritage. At the moment, its state is deteriorating not only in terms of safety, but other aspects also," he told The Brunei Times in an interview.

"We want to make it a proper designing and allocation and everything so that it will be sustainable and will not die just like that."

He added that negotiations are currently under way with private sectors on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) to handle the projects.

"We expect that (the entire plan) to be materialised, done before 2035. We are providing the roadmap to the interested agencies for proposal," he said.

Another major project under the BSB Master Plan is the Airport Hub, which will see retail streets and areas of commerce being located near the Brunei International Airport vicinity to boost the country's tourism.

In the proposal for the Airport Hub project are an international trade centre, hotels, riverfront residential clusters and a new mosque, among others.

A light rail extension is also being proposed to connect the retail clusters to the airport.

The Serusop Educational District and the Welfare Sports Complex will also be located within the Airport Hub.

According to Shahminan, the Master Plan to develop the capital began in 2007 and is currently still in its "infant stage". He expressed hope for members of the public to contribute to the planning by giving suggestions and feedback to improve the current plans.

"Our Master Plan is a roadmap, the implementations can be altered and adjusted to the current requirements. With public feedback, we can outline it the proper way," he said.

Dipetik dari - The Brunei Times

Menyingkap kembali Manifesto NDP 1427H/2006M - 1437H/2016M, berikut merupakan antara syor NDP di bawah bahagian Pembangunan Bandar dan Alam Sekitar:

• Meningkatkan imej dan konsep Kampung Ayer dengan kemudahan rumah tumpangan dan perhotelan, bank dan premis perniagaan, dan mengikis imej orang tidak bertanah dan miskin dan menjadikannya kawasan tarikan pelancong dan peniaga sebagai mercu tanda keunikan Negara Brunei Darussalam;


• Menjadikan Kampung Ayer sebagai pusat perdagangan. Sudah ratusan tahun konsep satu kampung satu produk diamalkan di Kampung Ayer. Umpamanya Kampung Saba adalah pengeluar bahan makanan laut, Kampung Lorong Sikuna adalah pengeluar tenunan songket yang popular. Kampung Pandai Besi adalah pengeluar produk dari bahan logam seperti parang dan pisau. Kampung Burong Pingai sebagai pengeluar makanan kuih-muih tradisional dan Kampung Sungai Kedayan sebagai pengeluar produk perak dan emas. Justeru itu, Parti Pembangunan menyeru supaya dikaji kemungkinan konsep ini dapat dihidupkan semula dan diberi nafas baru. Ia bukan saja mampu menjana ekonomi pengusaha tempatan tetapi juga boleh menjadi tarikan pelancong yang unik di dunia;


• Mengatasi masalah sampah tempatan secara amnya, dan pencemaran terutamanya di Kampong Ayer di mana usaha selama ini masih belum mencapai tahap yang memuaskan;