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Developing an Island Infrastructure 
Developing an Island Infrastructure
by Jules Kay
Infrastructure
issues on popular tourist islands present an increasingly difficult
challenge for those in charge of holiday destinations. In Thailand, a
new administration on Koh Samui is looking at ways to keep pace with
development.
Ever increasing numbers of international visitors
place heavy demands on the natural resources in tropical islands.
Tourists generate excessive amounts of waste, increased road and sea
traffic threatens forests and coral reefs, while construction
dramatically changes the once pristine landscape. On Koh Samui in
Thailand, despite impressive annual revenue from tourism, the local
government faces an uphill battle when it comes to implementing policies
that will ensure the island develops sustainably. The fast pace and
unregulated nature of development stands in sharp contrast to the modest
budgets and standardised policies applied in Bangkok. But new
approaches to local government are now stimulating change.
Like
most offshore islands, Koh Samui was, until recently, governed from the
mainland and allocated funds based on its modest local population. A
handful of special projects were funded directly from the capital, but
in general the island's public sector was left to languish in provincial
scarcity. Now with a team of islanders in charge, the current
administration is keen to make sure the projects and solutions they
apply last well into the future. "Thorough research, consultation with
experts and clearly structured project plans are essential," said Khun
Sinn Muenslip Poolsawat, Advisor to the Mayor's office. "We need to
apply policies and laws that make sense for the island, with taxes used
to benefit both the local population and the tourist infrastructure. We
are keen to apply our inside knowledge now to create a more beneficial
system of local government that is not only relevant to Samui, but also
balanced and fair."
To that end, the officers at the Samui
Municipality are working on a proposal that will give the island greater
autonomy and therefore greater control over its projects and budgets.
Bangkok granted intermediate City Status last year, but based on other
locations such as Pattaya and Phuket, local leaders feel that standard
local government structures do not take into account tourism as a major
factor. They are therefore hoping to secure special status for the
island that will allow for a dedicated Department of Tourism, as well as
other administrative systems that specifically apply to Samui.
The
island's roads were one of the first priorities. Uneven, damaged
concrete was causing accidents and delays. After lengthy discussions
with Thailand's Highways Department, the new Samui administration
managed to a secure a road improvement budget and set a realistic
schedule. The first phase was designed to complete most of the Ring Road
in time for a planned visit by Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn in early
2010, to officially open the Samui Court. Phase Two will begin later in
the year, with the aim being to tarmac all the island's main access
routes, including the most popular side roads. "We are asphalting all
the island's roads, while adding drainage channels at the same time,"
explained Khun Sinn. "In order to guarantee longevity we tested the
bitumen mix first on a stretch of road by the main port to make sure it
stood up to constant use."
The road project is one of several
pressing issues facing the Samui Municipality this year. Having
inherited some serious problems, they have now set priorities to
research and address. The next big project is waste management. The
island's incinerator in no longer functioning, so a lined land fill site
has been created to deal with rubbish. Meanwhile, garbage separation
systems are being developed to prevent further damage once the
incinerator is repaired. "When it comes to infrastructure, we started
with a serious deficit," explained Khun Sinn. "Now is the time to apply
all the resources we have to find practical, lasting solutions."
For
more information please contact us.
Samui Villas & Homes
Co., Ltd.
11/7 Moo 1, Tambon Bophut, Amphur Koh Samui,
Suratthani
84320 Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 77 427 648
Fax: +66 (0) 77 427 649
m.currie@samuivillasandhomes.com
Source: http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_524.html
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