RAUB: THE Raub district office has clarified that the construction of the 15-storey Fraser's Hill Resort and Spa, which has upset environmentalists, is above board.
The project, they said, was set to proceed according to schedule as it had obtained the go-ahead from the Raub District Council.
A source from the district office said there was "nothing unusual" about the project, which received all the necessary approvals early last year.
"The development order for the project was issued on Jan 4 last year, while the infrastructure plan for drainage, road and earthwork was approved on Jan 23. The 15-storey building plan was given the green light on Feb 15 last year.
"The developer has obtained all the approvals to begin work at the site and has complied with the requirements. The developer submitted the application in 2018 and everything was done according to the standard operating procedure," the source told the New Straits Times.
The source said although the approvals had been granted, the district office would continue to supervise the project to ensure there was no breach of the guidelines.
"The district office is concerned about the environment, so additional conditions have been included in the project.
"Engineers from the land and district office will be sent to regularly monitor the construction on the hill station to ensure the developer adheres to the requirements.
"The developer would also want to avoid issues during the construction or else it will jeopardise its reputation.
"This is a long-term project, where the construction will end only in 2026, similar to the East Coast Rail Link project, which will take six to seven years to complete.
"The developer has been reminded not to rush, but complete the work in stages."
The source said the developer should have erected a signboard announcing the details of the project before starting work at the site and not midway through the project, as reported earlier.
"A meeting will be held between the district office and the project developer in the next few days to get updates on the work at the site."
On the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment, the source said it was not required as the project only involved tearing down an existing structure to build a new building on the same site without involving steep slope or land-clearing.
It is learnt that a private company had obtained both plots of land for the resort project.
The 181-room Fraser's Hill Resort and Spa will include a swimming pool and a lower ground car park facility.
Persatuan Alam dan Warisan Bukit Fraser (PAWBF) has urged the developer to review its plans, claiming that the project would affect the only lake on Fraser's Hill, that is Allan's Water, and trigger major soil movement in the area.
PAWBF claimed that since Fraser's Hill is prone to landslides, the scale of the project is worrying and the construction could affect the soil near the wetland.