Development Opportunities & Constraints (Doc) for Tawau District

1 Rapid Survey of Development Opportunities & Constraints (DOC) for Tawau District
Dates of Survey – 30 March 1999

1.3 Development Directions

1.3.1 Economy

农业 Agriculture

The agriculture sector is still the main income earner for Tawau’s economy given the large amount of fertile land and the many existing palm oil and cocoa plantations and mills. Prices of oil palm too for instance are not severely affected by the current economic downturn. It is also a source of income for many of the small holders in Tawau. Although no river pollution has been reported yet, a sound management of the oil palm plantations is crucial. The question of the sustainability of the oil palm industry too needs to be considered.

Cocoa too has the potential to be developed further. Already a public listed company has taken the effort to promote cocoa products such as the “Hoko” chocolate drink and chocolate spread.

鱼业 Fisheries

The already established aquaculture farm at Batu Payung makes the fisheries sector still the main economic activity of the district. However, again careful management is needed to balance between developing more wetlands into aquaculture farms and preserving it.

森林 Forestry

As primary forest is getting scarce and timber prices has gone down, the forestry sector should look into other means of adding value to timber products such as setting up more of the ITC.

观光业 Tourism

Being the transit point for tourist to the islands of Sipadan and Mabul, Tawau should take the opportunity to further improve its services. Landmarks in Tawau particularly the unique basin-hill like near Merotai should be promoted.

物易 Barter trading

Barter trading is still a lucrative business in Tawau due to its proximity to Indonesia. Therefore the proposed integrated port at Wallace Bay particularly for barter trading should be encouraged as the existing barter trade jetty in Tawau is getting congested. Furthermore Wallace Bay is within the barter trade route and this will further strengthen the BIMP-EAGA concept.

1.3.2 Physical

住宅 Settlements

New areas

The grid pattern of urban Tawau provides ample space for settlement without causing serious traffic congestion. The waterfront of Tawau town too still has plenty of development land that provides a beautiful esplanade.

With the new airport under construction, it provides opportunities for new townships to be developed along the Apas Road such as at Mile 24 and Mile 26.

The port at Wallace Bay would also certainly encourage more development in undeveloped Pulau Sebatik. Nevertheless, proper offices should be provided for the Police, Immigration and Customs and Excise Departments.

Squatters settlements

The illegal squatter problem will continue to be a negative factor in urban development unless it is resolved. One way of dealing the problem is to confront the problem openly by accepting their existence, and thereafter, plans to resolve it can be worked out such as either improving the areas or relocating them and eventually legalizing them. Of course the other option is to adopt a policy of expulsion or deportation which never really has succeeded. Whatever the action is, the State alone cannot handle the problem. It needs support from the Federal authorities.

自然资源 Natural Resources

Protection of Forest

With development pressures especially from the agriculture sector, there is a strong need to maintain the existing protection forest. Coastal mangrove forest areas and rivers too should be protected from excessive development particularly illegal squatters.

Protection of rivers

There is also a need to protect the rivers in Tawau. Rivers like Sungai Tawau particularly are important water sources for Tawau. No development should be allowed along any riverbanks or the catchments areas.

Protection of the sea

The seas of Tawau may be naturally silted. However further logging activities downstream and together with the indiscriminate dumping of waste to the sea can further deteriorate the sea. In the end, Tawau is deprived of beautiful beaches.

基础架设 Infrastructure

Roads

Widening the road up to the new airport is recommended as traffic congestion is expected to build up. The traffic volume at the moment is already showing signs of potential congestion.

Roads to the west to Merotai should be re-sealed and upgraded to avoid any unwanted accidents. Roads should also be upgraded and improved all the way to Kalabakan and connected to Sapulut. It takes a shorter time to reach Kota Kinabalu using this road.

Water Supply

Water supply is another important infrastructure that should be given attention. The only solution is to provide more funding for the concessionaires Timatch Sdn Bhd to build more treatment plants.

Port and airports

As Tawau is increasingly becoming a second international gateway for Sabah and particularly in relation to BIMP-EAGA, the port facilities need to be upgraded. A location has already been identified (Pasir Putih). What it needs now is funding. A specialized barter trading port at Wallace Bay should be encouraged.

Waste Disposals

It is about time that Tawau has a proper waste disposal site. Furthermore Tawau is a Municipal Council and has the largest population in the State.

1.3.3 ICZM Spatial Plans

Decreasing the urban population from the trend seems appropriate given that most of the population and development is concentrated in Tawau town whereas the rural areas are being left out. After all there are not many major infrastructural facilities in urban Tawau to support new developments. Even the new airport is considered rural. Outer rural towns like Kalabakan, Brantian and Wallace Bay should be given the much needed development.

INDEX : Development April 28, 2008 10:39:37 AM