Yilan Ecological Green Boat planned for 20 years, changes emerge just eight days after opening
At the end of last year, the Hundred Fruit Trees Red Brick House, operated by the renowned writer Huang Chunming under commission from the Yilan County Government, had its subsidy budget cut by county councilors on grounds of favoritism, which at one point so angered Huang that he refused to renew the contract; only after condemnation from the arts and cultural circles and an apology from the county magistrate did Huang change his mind, and the site was to be transformed into the Huang Chunming Literature House. Yet less than 2 months later, a similar incident occurred with the "Ecological Green Boat" project on the Dongshan River.
More than 20 years in the planning, the "Ecological Green Boat" is expected to revitalize the long-idle Dongshan River Forest Park. The Yilan County Government commissioned the Human-River Environmental Ethics Development Foundation (Renhe Foundation) to plan and execute it, hoping to activate the multiple functions of riverside settlements, agriculture, environment and education along the river, such as offering duck boat rides and ecological guided tours. But because county councilors questioned the county government over "suspicions of favoritism" and cut the budget, the Ecological Green Boat project will be handed back to the county government just eight days after opening, and the originally planned environmental education content comes to a full stop.
Chen Changwei, Director of the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Department of the Yilan County Government, said the Ecological Green Boat and the Huang Chunming case highlight insufficient communication between the county government and county councilors, and that outreach will be strengthened in the future.
Twenty years of time wasted in vain; the Ecological Green Boat still struggles to open
The Yilan County Dongshan River Ecological Green Boat was formerly the "Forest Park." Because it sits at the confluence of the Dongshan River, Anpingkeng Creek and Dayuan drainage outlet, it has a rich aquatic and terrestrial ecological environment; it was therefore originally planned as an integrated park for in-depth tourism, a regional platform and an ecological education base, differing in purpose from the recreation-oriented parks familiar to the public, such as the Dongshan River Waterfront Park and Luodong Sports Park.
Although the case was planned more than 20 years ago, its opening schedule was repeatedly delayed by insufficient funding and the railway eastward relocation project; yet whenever major events occurred, such as the opening of the Xueshan Tunnel, the International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival, and the Green Expo, calls would again arise to open the park as soon as possible.
It was not until September of last (2015) year that the county government finally, through a professional commission, entrusted the park's overall operation and in-depth tour planning to the Human-River Environmental Ethics Development Foundation (Renhe Foundation) for execution, originally scheduled to open on October 24; but Typhoons Soudelor and Dujuan struck, felling 2300 trees in the park, and the county government decided to instead open on April 22 of this (2016) year, to coincide with World Earth Day.
The twice-troubled Ecological Green Boat stirred up waves again days ago. Before the opening, county councilors questioned that the county government was favoring the Renhe Foundation, jointly boycotted and cut the budget, and it was feared that 8 days after opening the park would again be operated by the county government. The Baishuguo Coffee of the renowned writer Huang Chunming at the end of last year also nearly had its lights turned off for the same reason, a situation almost identical.
