Development plan of the Ma Wan old village

I noticed the possible redevelopment of the Ma Wan old village area is being discussed among Park Island expats on the Ma Wan Network Facebook Group.

It seems that the old village will likely be developed with low density housing (ie 3-level villas or houses) and commercial, recreational and tourism facilities (my guess is perhaps a hotel, marina, restaurants along the beach, etc).

See below some details about what may be coming:

Draft Ma Wan Outline Zoning Plan approved.

The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Ma Wan Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide the development and redevelopment within the Ma Wan area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (June 12).

The Planning Scheme Area covers about 101 hectares of land comprising Ma Wan and Tang Lung Chau. Ma Wan is situated between Tsing Yi and Tsing Chau Tsai Peninsula in northeast Lantau, about five kilometres from Tsuen Wan and 12 kilometres from Central. It is embraced by Ma Wan Channel to its east and north, and Kap Shui Mun to its west.

The rural settlement is located in the western part, comprising the recognised Tin Liu and Ma Wan Main Street Villages, a fishermen's village uphill, and temporary structures adjacent to the sheltered anchorage, most of which have been relocated to the village expansion area in the northwestern part of Ma Wan. The comprehensive residential development in the northeastern part of the island has mostly been completed. Recreational areas, including the Ma Wan Park and the gazetted beach of Tung Wan, are mainly located respectively on the central and eastern part of the island.

Two sites totalling about 30.19 hectares in the northeastern and western parts of Ma Wan are zoned "Comprehensive Development Area" ("CDA"). The Northeastern "CDA", which covers about 21.19 hectares, is the subject of a comprehensive residential development with commercial, open space and other supporting facilities. Most of the development is completed.

The Western "CDA", which covers about nine hectares, comprises mainly the existing village settlement and two youth camps on the western headland. The planning intention for this site is for comprehensive development/redevelopment of the existing Ma Wan Town area for low-rise, low density recreation, commercial and/or tourism uses. The approved Ma Wan Park and a resort hotel development are located in this part of Ma Wan which covers the Western "CDA" and some of the adjoining "Green Belt" and "Other Specified Uses" ("OU") zones.

Two sites of about 18.28 hectares of land abutting the landmark bridge of the Lantau Link are located on the Tsing Yi, Ma Wan and North Lantau tourism corridor. They are under the "OU" annotated "Recreation and Tourism Related Uses" zone for low-rise and low-density recreation and tourism related development such as theme park, resort hotel, public recreational uses and tourist attractions. One site covers the lowland area of Lau Fa Tsuen and Tai Lung in central Ma Wan immediately north of the Lantau Link and forms part of the site for the approved Ma Wan Park. The other site comprises the lowland and reclaimed land to the west of Sha Lau Tong Wan and foothill slopes to the north of Pak Nai Shan in southeastern Ma Wan.

A total area of 7.87 hectares of land in the northwestern part of Ma Wan covering the new village settlement near Tin Liu Village and the formed village area to the north is zoned "Village Type Development" for the provision of land for the relocation of existing village houses, fishermen's village and squatters affected by the development projects in Ma Wan and for development of Small Houses by indigenous villagers of the island. The new village settlement may include a temple relocated from its existing site at Ma Wan Main Street.

To serve the needs of the local residents and/or the general public, about 1.21 hectares of land is zoned "Government, Institution or Community" to provide a range of government, institution or community facilities; about 1.03 hectares of land is zoned "Open Space" to provide outdoor open-air public space for active and/or passive recreational uses; and about 5.04 hectares of land under the "OU" zoning are for traditional burial area, highways maintenance area and pier to serve the area.

About 31.78 hectares of land is zoned "Green Belt" to conserve the existing natural environment amid the built-up areas, safeguard it from encroachment by urban type development, and provide additional outlets for passive recreational activities.

On communications, the Lantau Link incorporating an expressway and a railway caters for the land transport of the island. A ferry pier located in the northeastern coast of Ma Wan providing services to Central and Tsuen Wan caters for the traffic demand of the residents of the island and visitors to the recreational park. Ferry shall be the principal transport mode for Ma Wan in terms of carrying capacity during peak hours.

The approved Ma Wan OZP No. S/I-MWI/14 is now available for public inspection during office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters of Planning Department in North Point and Sha Tin, the Tsuen Wan and West Kowloon District Planning Office, the Tsuen Wan District Office and the Ma Wan Rural Committees.

Copies of the approved plan are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the plan can be viewed on the Town Planning Board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).

Friday, June 12, 2009