KUCHING: Riverbank beautification work at Kampung Rantau Panjang and Kampung Sina Budi Lama is progressing well as scheduled.
According to a statement by the Batu Kawa service centre, the construction started in March this year and is expected to be completed in May next year.
It added that the state government project, which is contracted to Cityon Development Sdn Bhd, is being handled by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID).
“The Kampung Sina Budi Lama river bank retaining wall project costs RM10 million. In addition, sidewalks and small piers for boats will also be built on the riverbank.
“Meanwhile, at Kampung Rantau Panjang, the beautification work costs RM11.3 million,” it said, adding that Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian recently inspected the project sites.
It added that Kampung Rantau Panjang river bank project and the Batu Kawa Waterfront project were on the same side of the river.
Both come under the Batu Kawa Waterfront phase 5 development project, one of the key projects of Dr Sim, to develop and beautify the Batu Kawa river bank.
“Once completed, the Kampung Rantau Panjang river bank retaining wall will solve the erosion issue and be another leisure place for the public and a tourist attraction,” it said.
Kampung Rantau Panjang and Kampung Sina Budi Lama’s river bank has been eroded for many years and previous multiple repairs have not been able to completely solve the problem.
As such, after visiting the site several times and listening to the advice from the public and engineers, Dr Sim applied for a special development grant from the Sarawak government to solve the problem once and for all, and at the same time, create a safe living environment for the nearby residents.
Phase 1 of the Batu Kawa river bank development project, which includes the Batu Kawa Waterfront park, costs RM880,000 while Phase 2 costs RM3.189 million, Phase 3 RM5 million and Phase 4 RM2.8 million.
