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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Energy & Infrastructure

Hsinchu County's Xinpu Urban Plan Expansion Sparks Concern Over Farmland Loss and Infrastructure Strain

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Hsinchu County Government's proposed expansion of the Xinpu Urban Plan, particularly the Tianxin redevelopment area, is facing local opposition.
  • Residents worry about the loss of approximately 33 hectares of fertile farmland and potential worsening of drainage and traffic issues.
  • A public hearing is scheduled for September 9th to address concerns regarding the plan, which is currently open for public exhibition until August 28th.

A proposed expansion of the Xinpu Urban Plan in Hsinchu County, Taiwan, is drawing significant local concern, primarily over the potential loss of fertile farmland and the strain on existing infrastructure. The Hsinchu County Government is currently conducting public exhibitions for the fourth comprehensive review of the Xinpu Urban Plan, which includes a westward expansion of the Tianxin redevelopment area.

We're slowly seeing less and less green farmland!

— Netizen commentExpressing concern over the loss of agricultural land due to urban expansion.

Residents have voiced strong objections, lamenting the potential disappearance of approximately 33 hectares of prime farmland along the Fengshan River. Online comments reflect a sentiment of loss, with citizens expressing worries such as, "We're slowly seeing less and less green farmland!" and questioning the impact on local resources. Concerns also extend to the adequacy of drainage systems, especially in an area already prone to flooding, and whether road infrastructure, like Wende Road, will be widened sufficiently to accommodate projected population growth.

Former Zhubei City Representative Hsu Yu-lun, who has long been involved in regional development, urged that drainage designs must account for intense, short-duration rainfall, noting that nearly half of the current area is a high-risk flood zone. He also pointed out that without progress on widening the ends of Wende Road and the Pudong Tunnel, increased population density could exacerbate traffic congestion in Xinpu.

The urban plan area is getting bigger, Wende Road also needs to be widened to keep up with population growth.

— Netizen commentHighlighting the need for infrastructure upgrades to match urban development.

Hsu suggested that the planned green belts along the Fangliao and Tianxin canals could be developed into ecological, water-friendly park spaces. However, he noted that the lack of continuous park planning at the entry points to the redevelopment zone, where they are relegated to culverts under roads, diminishes the potential to respect the cultural landscape. The county government has invited public feedback on the plan, with a hearing scheduled for September 9th.

The drainage design must be able to cope with short-duration heavy rainfall; nearly half of the current area is a high-risk flood zone.

— Hsu Yu-lunFormer Zhubei City Representative, emphasizing flood prevention needs.
About this summary

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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