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Golfing
on the banks of the Diyawanna Oya First mooted
in 1997, with the Urban Development Authority (UDA) as the project
proponent, the agreement was signed by the developer, Asia Pacific
Golf Courses Ltd., UDA and the Board of Investment (BOI) in August
2001. The drainage plan was given by the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation
and Development Corporation (SLLRDC), the consultant in storm water
management, in January this year. Work commenced in February. The land, which
was vested in the UDA, has been identified as a flood detention
area by the SLLRDC, an official of the UDA explained. There have
been heavy demands for divesting ownership. There are also threats
of unauthorised filling by squatters and encroachers as well as
garbage dumping, all of which are harmful to the environment. Therefore,
the best solution, they felt would be to have a project compatible
with the flood detention requirements. Part of this
land lies within a nature sanctuary. The marshland has to be retained
as far as possible so that the wetland bird sanctuary can be recreated.
The golf course project has been given the green light under specific
conditions as it is compatible with the flood detention requirements
of the area. "The whole
project has been worked out in consultation with SLLRDC, in conjunction
with the flood storage requirements," the UDA official said.
Part of the 225 acres of land has been given on a 99-year lease
and the rest on a licence agreement. The oya bordering the land
is being doubled in width so that it will be almost like a lake.
While the greens, fairways and tees are to be raised above flood
level, the fair weather driving range and two playgrounds will be
at a lower level so that during rainy weather, it can take on the
flood detention function. Under the agreement, the two playgrounds
are being constructed at the developer's expense for the Kaduwela
Pradeshiya Sabha. Upstream, a lake for pleasure boating and four
nature parks, mostly water based, at the developer's expense, would
also act as flood detention ponds. Over 60% of
the land would be water and marsh, with lots of culverts and bridges.
The clubhouse is being built on high ground where no additional
filling is required. Certain other levels have been brought down
to compensate for the filling required for the 100 small golf cottages
that would be built at a later stage of the project. The golf course
and playgrounds are expected to take three years since earthwork
cannot be undertaken during rainy weather. The water theme park,
for which the developer could charge an entrance fee, and the golf
cottages would be constructed thereafter. The Ministry
of Western Region Development, which is now the approving agency,
has instructed the UDA to monitor the project. "Regular monitoring
meetings will be held with the SLLRDC, UDA and the developer,"
the UDA official said. "If they do not act according to the
master plan, the agreement can be terminated. This is a good compromise
method of managing these flood detention areas rather than letting
them lie idle for garbage or unauthorised filling." "Since
the area is within and bordering a major reserve, part of which
is a wild life reserve, the Central Environmental Authority called
a Scoping Committee," said Keerthi Jayawardena, DGM Research
and Design, SLLRDC. "It was decided that an Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) should be carried out. The UDA as the project proponent,
commissioned the National Building and Research Organisation (NBRO)
to carry out the EIA. We also participated in the storm water drainage
and hydraulics aspect of the EIA. Approval was given in 1999." Mr. Jayawardena
said the levels are taken by the SLLRDC to determine whether some
areas can be excavated and others filled to maintain the flood detention
capacity. The work seems
to be carried out according to plan but each stage would have to
be monitored. The lands, which had been acquired by the UDA in the
1980s, were originally paddy lands but could not be cultivated due
to the stagnation of water. Owners who could establish ownership
were paid compensation. "There was a proposal earlier to move
the army mechanical workshop to this site," Mr. Jayawardena
said. "However, this project is hydraulically better as it
merges with the concept of a green belt around Parliament." According to
the agreement, conditions have been specified for the disposal of
sewage, drainage of water, use of pesticides and weedicides and
monitoring. The conditions require that the project approving authority
be informed of any alterations and fresh approvals obtained. When
a project is abandoned, the site should be restored to a condition
specified by the approving authority. Further, SLLRDC should be
consulted at every stage of development, before proceeding to the
next stage. At the site,
three teams of workers are busy with excavator machines, widening
the existing canal. The peat excavated from the oya is being dumped
on the areas where the main playing areas are to be located. Temporary
access roads have been made for the machinery, which cannot be taken
on the soft peat of the marshland. When the course is done, secondary
areas of play, raised to 1.5m will provide narrow pathways between
the playing areas. An access road is being made to the clubhouse.
"The canal is being expanded to 80 metres. The excavated earth
is used to fill little islands in the marsh, with the least disturbance
to the rest of the landscape," said Dilshan Ferdinando, Representative
of Asia Pacific Golf Courses. The playing areas would be little
islands among the natural vegetation of the area. Due to the acidity
of the soil, only a few varieties of trees have been found to be
growing on it. The clumps of trees were being saved as far as possible
to provide welcome patches of shade, with the undergrowth only being
cleaned up. Mr. Ferdinando
said the excavation was undertaken at enormous cost. "We are
only allowed to fill 48 acres of the land," he added. "Whatever
we fill, the waterway has to be dredged by an equal area."
A drain is being constructed round the periphery of the land to
treat detergents and other effluents that are being discharged from
the built up areas surrounding the land naturally so that the course
does not get polluted by it. Mr. Ferdinando
said the first stage of the work is to dredge the canal and complete
the holes 1-4. The layout has been designed by an experienced golf
course Architect, David Griffith. A layer of kabok soil will be
introduced over the peat and a specially designed topsoil would
be used. Expert opinion is being sought regarding the planting of
grass on the playing areas "We are thinking of using a local
grass suitable for the area, as an imported hybrid variety may be
attacked by local fungi," he said. When the driving range is
ready the planting of grass will commence on it. About sixty
acres of the land will remain under UDA ownership to be developed
and maintained by a developing company. This project is a long term
one and its fruits would be best seen in ten years' time, Mr. Ferdinando
commented. Although the initial outlay on laying out the golf course
is staggeringly high, exceeding Rs. 1.4 billion, he is confident
that it would be a profitable venture. The Directors of the developing
company are themselves keen golfers and know what they are doing.
"Golf enthusiasts from countries such as Japan come here for
extended golfing holidays, paying huge amounts as club membership
fees, green fees and so on. This golf course will definitely be
an attraction." |
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Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
Rs.
1.4 billion under the Diyawanna Oya project for the development
of marshlands. Falling within the Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha, the
project envisages a golf course with water theme park, ponds and
nature parks.
