Pa Khlock people back new pier

PHUKET: A small gathering of interested Pa Khlock residents today gave their backing to a proposal by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) to build a new pier at Ao Por.

However, the exact location has yet to be decided, and the land around all the possible sites is in private hands.

Staff from the Marine Department gave a presentation on the proposed pier to 55 members of the public who gathered at the offices of the Pa Khlok Tambon Administration Organisation.

Vice-Governor Niran Kalayanamit gave a speech to open the meeting, which was attended by Marine Department deputy head Sumontha Thongphat and OrBorJor President Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr.

Marine Department engineer Pongwan Jarudecha told the meeting the new pier would be within 100 meters of the old one. It would be seven meters wide and extend out into the sea about 500 meters. It would be able to accommodate at any one time up to six tourist boats with a draft of more than two meters.

The proposal has already passed an environmental impact assessment, and the 130.04 million baht cost will be included in the OrBorJor budget for the 2005-2006 fiscal year.

However, at the moment, the land around all the sites where the pier could be built is privately owned, and the OrBorJor will have to persuade whoever owns the relevant land to sell it or lease it long-term.

“If the OrBorJor can get the four or five rai we need,” said V/Gov Pongpow, “the Marine Department will put the project out to tender next month.

“Building could start early next year and we estimate it will take 540 days to complete, making it ready in 2006.”

K. Anchalee told those present that the OrBorJor was ready to buy or lease whatever land was needed.

Local people at the meeting supported the proposal, recognizing that a new pier will make it easier for them to travel to Koh Yao and other islands around Phang Nga Bay. At present larger boats must wait for the right tidal conditions before coming in to the existing pier, but the new, longer pier will allow them to tie up at any time.