Outdated Development Projects on the East Coast Are Ill-Timed; Environmental Groups Suggest Suspending and Reviewing Them

In January this year, the Coastal Zone Management Act passed its third reading, bringing stricter regulations to bear on coastal management. In July, the Taitung Shanyuan Palm Beach Resort tried to push its environmental impact assessment through, but failed because it could not satisfy the Coastal Zone Management Act's requirement to suspend the case and resubmit documents for further review. However, development projects approved before the Coastal Zone Management Act was passed are not subject to this restriction — for example, the "Mandi Fu Recreation Area" that the Environmental Protection Administration will review tomorrow obtained its environmental impact assessment approval 13 years ago and, although construction has not yet begun, it could be developed at any time. Environmental groups argue that when these early development projects applied, they did not incorporate the opinions of local Indigenous residents, and their wastewater treatment is already outdated; the Environmental Protection Administration should first review these old development plans and suspend their review.

Located in the Sanxiantai area of Chenggong Township, Taitung County, the "Mandi Fu Recreation Area" is near Jihui Fishing Harbor and is expected to have 200 rooms built, covering an area of 10.41 hectares — about the size of 5 Taipei Dome — and the project passed its environmental impact assessment in 2002 (Republic of China year 91). Over these 13 years, apart from land preparation and soil and water conservation plans, no substantial construction has taken place. (Image provided by / Citizens of the Earth Foundation)