The contractor building a condominium and harbor project in Najomtien sub-district met with residents and area officials to address concerns about the impact the private project will have on the local fishing industry.
Suriya Kijsamrej, managing director of Pavilion Beach Co., along with his civil engineer Yeungyong Puthichart, met May 6 at the Lung Wai 2 restaurant with locals and officials from the Pattaya Marine Office, Najomtien Sub-district, and the Najomtien Moo 1 headsman to discuss their concerns about the Well Marina Condo Najomtien project.
An artist’s rendering of what the project area would look like upon completion.
The project calls for three, eight-story buildings and a marina capable of accommodating up to 30 boats. The harbor, however, encroaches on a swath of pubic land 10 meters wide and 80 meters long, along a canal used by 50 local fishing boats.
The Well Condo project was approved and is being supported by local agencies.
The Well Marina gained approval from the Pattaya Marine Department and is awaiting approval under the Building Control Act of 1979 by Najomtien Sub-district.
Local residents have not given their blessing and complain that the marina will narrow the channel that is vital for the transit of 20-gross-ton fishing boats.
Sediment buildup and erosion already has made parts of the canal impassable, residents complained, and this encroaching project will only make matters worse. Lastly, residents complained that if the private project goes ahead, a public promenade along the canal planned by Najomtien, which could be used for gaining access to boats, will be scrapped.
A ground level view of what the area looks like today. Note the communication towers in both photos for comparison.
Yeungyong Puthichart, lead engineer for the project, claimed only 400 sq. meters of public space would be used, which would leave plenty of space for the fishing boats currently using the canal to continue to do so. He also offered to have Pavilion Beach Co. dredge the canal to make life easier for its users.
Marine Department chief Raewat Phoreng confirmed his office had given the OK for Pavilion Beach to build its marina, but assured the public that the promenade would still go forward next to the harbor.
He expressed hope the public would agree with the project, but community leaders held back their opinion at the meeting.
