The government said yesterday that it is now aiming to promulgate its urban development plan for “Eastern District 2”, which covers the Zone A land reclamation area, before the end of the current quarter.
Lands and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU) Director Lai Weng Leong made the remarks while speaking to reporters at The Plaza Restaurant in Zape after attending a Chinese New Year (CNY) banquet hosted by the Macau Real Estate Development Association.
The government carried out a public consultation on its draft urban development plan for Eastern District 2 between October 7 and December 5, 2022, after which the government published a report at the end of May last year summarising the opinions and suggestions gathered from members of the public during the public consultation period.
The government is required to consult the Urban Planning Council (CPU) on a draft urban development plan within 60 days after the publication of its report summarising the opinions from the respective public consultations.
The government-appointed Urban Planning Council held two meetings in June and July last year respectively where members raised their opinions on the Eastern District 2 draft urban development plan.
After members of the council voice their opinions on a draft urban development plan, DSSCU officials are required to prepare and submit a report on the matter to the chief executive within 90 days, who will then decide whether the draft should be amended, according to the Urban Planning Law and its supplementary administration regulation on the law’s implementation.
After the chief executive makes the respective decision, DSSCU officials will then complete drawing up the final version of the respective urban development plan, after which it will be promulgated in the Official Gazette (BO).
An urban development plan takes effect on the day after its promulgation in the gazette.
The Lands and Urban Construction Bureau said last year that it was aiming to promulgate the Eastern District 2 urban development plan before the end of 2023.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Lai said that his bureau has now “entered its final stage” of completing the final version of the Eastern District 2 urban development plan, adding that the government is now aiming to promulgate the plan within the current quarter.
Macau’s official urban master plan took effect in February 2022 when it was promulgated in the Official Gazette.
The Macau Special Administrative Region’s (MSAR) urban master plan for 2020 to 2040 divides the city into 18 “subareas for planning”.
Only after the urban master plan takes effect, can the government draft the respective detailed urban development plans for the 18 subareas.
The Zone A land reclamation area is covered by Eastern District 2, one of the 18 subareas listed by the urban master plan.
Eastern District 2 is the government’s first draft of a detailed urban development plan for a subarea.
Other urban development plans
Moreover, Lai said yesterday that his bureau is currently working on drafting urban development plans for Outer Harbour District 1, Outer Harbour District 2, Northern District 1, and Central Taipa District 2. Lai said that his bureau now expects Outer Harbour District 1 to be the first draft urban development plan on which a public consultation will be launched.
Outer Harbour District 1 covers Zape, while Outer Harbour District 2 covers Nape as well as Nam Van Lake areas and Sai Van Lake areas.
Nam Van Lake and Sai Van Lake areas are where Macau Tower and the Legislative Assembly (AL) building are located.
Northern District 1 covers Ilha Verde, Fai Chi Kei and Lam Mau Tong in the north-west peninsula, while Central Taipa District 2 covers the central area of Taipa island.
In Taipa, high-rise residential buildings are primarily located in Central Taipa District 2.
Lands and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU) Director Lai Weng Leong talks to reporters at The Plaza Restaurant in Zape yesterday. – Photo courtesy of TDM
