Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian, Phuketwan 11 Sep 09;
NO MORE private marinas and piers will be built on Phuket under a reversal of policy, implemented by Governor Wichai Praisa-nob.
The change in approach leaves some branded resort developments with no prospect of providing marinas that were offered as an attraction to buyers.
It's a remarkable reversal of attitudes and administrative approaches.
Just a year or two ago, an entrepreneur suggested the building of an artificial island for megayachts in Phang Nga Bay, and his suggestion was taken seriously.
"Many private companies have tried to purchase land along the east coast of Phuket and around Sireh island," Governor Wichai said.
"The east coast has had problems with pollution and the destruction of mangrove forests.
"To protect the existing marine life and the livelihood of the local people, we are going to cease permits for non-government piers and marinas."
With the sale of all viable land along the west coast for development, Phuket's east coast has become increasingly desirable.
The opportunity to open marinas with access to Phang Nga Bay has already been exploited, with several established marinas and proposed resorts seeing it as essential to have their own "yacht havens".
But the east coast remains home to vulnerable marine life, including dugongs which rely for their survival on a handful of areas where sea grass grows.
Villagers along the east coast and on the offshore islands have witnessed the consequences of large-scale developments and declared that they do not want more resorts or "pool villas with private moorings".
The decision on marinas and piers was made known at a meeting of the governor's new environmental impact review committee this week.
Dr Narinee Tongtam, of the Phuket Marine and Coastal Resources Office, told the meeting that in the past, villagers have been deceived by developers who promise locals jobs if projects go ahead.
Some of the biggest new up-market resorts along the east coast have been guilty of this deception. Locals did not get the jobs and were eventually shut out of beaches and public areas where previous generations once wandered freely.
"It's a good thing to stop these projected marinas and piers because ultimately, they destroy the environment and only benefit a handful of people." Dr Narinee said.
The policy marks a dramatic change in approach, largely based on the broken promises of several big-name, high-profile developments that have sprung up along the east coast in the past few years.
The meeting was told that the alternative was for resorts to provide access to local government piers and existing marinas.
The governor has established the new committee because the existing system of environmental checks is flawed.
Once approved, there has previously been no control to ensure the environment is actually protected and no penalty for falsely-issued approval certificates.
The change in policy leaves some branded resort developments with no prospect of providing marinas that were promised as part of the attraction to buyers.
The present governor and his predecessor, Dr Preecha Roungjan, have expressed personal views that Phuket is developed enough.
Both governors have listened sympathetically to village leaders of traditional communities along the east coast and on offshore islands, where the majority view is that no more development is wanted, or necessary.
The villagers prefer to maintain their traditional lifestyle. For better or worse, they see continuity as far more important than cash-in-hand.
