Bukit Assek Redevelopment Plan to mitigate floods

SIBU: The town is now a step closer to the implementation of its Bukit Assek Redevelopment Plan.

According to Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government, Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee, the Sibu Cloudburst Masterplan Study has been completed.

“According to the briefing this morning by the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) about the Bukit Assek Redevelopment Plan, the cloudburst study, which is the heavy downpour flood risk assessment, has been completed, including the soil test.

“In fact, I’m very grateful that the relevant authority not only surveyed the 497 acres involved in the Bukit Assek Redevelopment Plan but also surveyed 50,000 acres to have a holistic assessment of how to face the challenge of cloudbursts in the next 100 years,” he said.

He said this when met by reporters after attending the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Sibu Sa’ati Hall renovation completion luncheon, officiated by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian at Kampung Datu here yesterday (July 31).

He added that they are now moving towards designing the Bukit Assek Redevelopment Masterplan, which will take some time.

Last year, in an exclusive interview with the Sarawak Tribune, Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng Jin Ek said that the study, which started in early May 2023, consists of three stages: Flood Risk Assessment, Conceptual Masterplan and Design Options, and the Schematic Masterplan and Design for Bukit Assek.

The ultimate goal of the study run by an international consultant called Ramboll, aimed to tackle the longstanding flood problem not only in Bukit Assek but also in the entire Sibu area.

The completion of the study will pave the way for the redevelopment of Bukit Assek to be designed and is expected to provide comprehensive flood mitigation measures.