The Da Nang Union of Science and Technology Associations has held a seminar to review the Lien Chieu Seaport subdivision planning  project with a total adjusted area of 1,293ha and a population of 15,840 people, specifically 1,081ha and 15,380 people in Hoa Hiep Bac Ward, Lien Chieu District; 212ha and 460 people in Hoa Lien Commune, Hoa Vang District.

Illustrative image. (Photo: DNO)

The consulting unit has proposed spatial orientation of Lien Chieu Seaport subdivision planning, including seaport, logistics, industry, urban areas and traffic hubs.

At the workshop, experts, scientists, and managers contributed ideas around the resettlement arrangement for households displaced by the project and the construction of a seaport urban area. In particular, many experts underlined a need to consider expanding the zoning planning area.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Chung, former Deputy Director of the Da Nang Institute of Construction Planning, the area of Lien Chieu Seaport subdivision project is too small, of which more than 570ha is mainly sea surface for port construction; the area of Lien Chieu Industrial Park is more than 248ha; the area of professional schools, factories, petroleum depots and the Kim Lien Station has occupied more than 60ha; the forestry land is more than 70ha. Only about 150ha left is too small to be able to integrate all the functional components of a seaport urban area.

If it is not possible to expand the scope of the seaport urban area, the consultant should boldly change the current land use structure. At the same time, it is necessary to include the southern bank of Cu De River belonging to another subdivision into the planning project to express the idea of a riverside urban area more clearly.

With a regard to strategic environmental assessment, the consulting unit needs to be cautious against environmental incidents when oil spills occur in the port area.

Head of the Authority of Da Nang Hi-Tech Park and Industrial Zones (DHPIZA) Vu Quang Hung agreed with the idea of expanding the boundary for Lien Chieu Seaport subdivision to the southern bank of Cu De River and asked the consultant to make a proposal to the city on adjusting the boundary of this subdivision.

With the population size as proposed by the consulting unit, only half of the standards for urban areas have been met, so all urban-level service works in this subdivision must be linked with neighbouring areas so as to form an urban area with the reasonable population size according to regulations.

The connection with the surrounding subdivisions is indeed very important. On the other hand, with such a small land area, all works related to public services and residential units must be clustered so as to save money.

Chairman of the Viet Nam Construction Association Dang Viet Dung suggested that the consulting unit should pay more attention to urban landscape design in parallel with preserving coastal fishing villages and marine culture and tourist highlights as well.

Chairman of the Da Nang Union of Science and Technology Associations Vo Cong Tri emphasized a need for consulting units to acknowledge the comments made by experts and scientists, including many valid opinions related to the analysis, status assessment, design ideas, space organization and landscape. Also it is important to propose planning plans, land use norms, social infrastructure and resettlement arrangement ideas.

Also importantly, the consulting unit needs to study the plan for preserving the residential areas and ancient relics, take solutions for storm water and flood drainages and forest protection.

He asked the consulting unit to supplement and complete the Lien Chieu Seaport subdivision planning project. The Da Nang Union of Science and Technology Associations will also fully synthesise the opinions of experts, scientists, representatives of competent agencies to serve the appraisal of planning projects.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP - Translating by A.THU