Project slated to be completed in 2025
The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) has announced that a project to build a rainwater pumping station in Fai Chi Kei is expected to get off the ground in the second quarter of next year.
The project aims to tackle floods caused by torrential rain in Fai Chi Kei and Lam Mau Tong, as well as Avenida de Horta e Costa and its surrounding area.
The bureau expects the whole project, which will be carried out in three phases, to be completed in 2025.
The bureau made the announcement in a statement late last month.
Macau’s current pumping stations
A rainwater pumping station in the northern area of the Inner Harbour came into use in late May last year. The facility, officially known as Inner Harbour North Rainwater Pumping Station, is located near the Ponte 16 casino-hotel.
In addition to the new rainwater pumping station that started operating last year, Macau has three other rainwater pumping stations that have been in use for years, namely one in Ilha Verde district, and two in Lam Mau Tong district.
The two current rainwater pumping stations in Lam Mau Tong, the district south-west of Fai Chi Kei, are located on the waterfront of Patane South Bay, which is known as Fai Chi Kei South Bay in Cantonese.
Pumping station project in southern Inner Harbour area also to start
The government launched a public tender in May this year for the first phase of a project to build a rainwater pumping station in the southern area of the Inner Harbour. The tender received 13 bids, which were unsealed in June. According to the website of the Public Works Bureau (DSOP), the government has already chosen and commissioned the winning bidder to carry out the project’s first phase.
The project comprising a rainwater pumping station and box culverts in the southern area of the Inner Harbour will be carried out in three phases. The Inner Harbour South Rainwater Pumping Station will be located near The Riviera Macau residential building.
The statement issued by the Municipal Affairs Bureau late last month confirms that one more new rainwater pumping station will be constructed in the city.
Patane North Bay pumping station project to start in 2023 Q2
According to the statement, the new rainwater pumping station will be located on the waterfront of Patane North Bay, a bay off Fai Chi Kei and Ilha Verde, which is known as Fai Chi Kei North Bay in Cantonese.
The statement late last month said that with the aim of alleviating flooding caused by torrential rain in Fai Chi Kei, Lam Mau Tong and the Avenida de Horta e Costa neighbourhood, the Municipal Affairs Bureau is planning to build a rainwater pumping station and box culverts on the waterfront of Patane North Bay in phases that will expand the areas’ rainwater discharge capacity.
In addition to the rainwater pumping station and box culverts, according to the statement, the project will also include the setting-up of a waterfront sitting-out area at Patane North Bay.
The statement said that with the aim of reducing the impact on residents and businesses in the neighbourhood near Patane North Bay, the project will be carried out in three phases.
According to the statement, the government will invite construction bids for the project before the end of this year, adding that the project’s first phase is slated to get off the ground in the second quarter of next year.
The statement said that the construction will be quite difficult as the project will be carried out in a densely populated area, which is also near the embankment, because of which the project is easily impacted by tidal changes.
3 phases, new sitting-out area in 1st phase
According to the statement, the project’s first phase will build a 170-metre section of box culverts along Rua do Comandante João Belo (俾若翰街/筷子基北街), i.e., the south-side waterfront of Patane North Bay.
In addition, the statement said, the first phase will also include the construction of a waterfront sitting-out area with a total area of 2,166 square metres there. The sitting-out area, according to the statement, will feature various facilities such as fitness equipment, viewing platforms and a children’s “interactive” area. The future sitting-out area will be connected to the current sitting-out area at Patane North Bay, i.e., the one along Rua Norte do Patane (沙梨頭北街), or the east-side waterfront of Patane North Bay, the statement said.
A “green barrier” comprising flowerbeds and trees will be set up to separate the future sitting-out area and the vehicular road in Rua do Comandante João Belo, the statement said.
In the second phase, the statement said, a 268-metre section of box culverts will be built along Rua da Doca Seca (船澳街), which will connect the existing section of box culverts along Avenida Marginal do Lam Mau (林茂海邊大馬路), i.e., the south-side waterfront of Patane South Bay, and the future new box culverts along Rua do Comandante João Belo.
According to the statement, the new rainwater pumping station at Patane North Bay will be built during the project’s third phase. In addition to draining rainwater, the statement said, the pumping station, which will cover an area of 920 square metres, will also include facilities that intercept sewage, with the aim of improving the current water pollution issue in Patane North Bay.
The statement said that the government aims to complete the construction of all box culverts in the second half of 2024, before the construction of the rainwater pumping station is slated to be completed in 2025.
This artist’s rendition released by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) late last month shows the future waterfront sitting-out area at Patane North Bay.
