Mayoral Candidate Criticizes Zhubei Market Project Delays, Proposes Solutions

Zhubei mayoral candidate Chiu Chen-yuan has criticized the prolonged delays and political disputes surrounding the East District Waterfront Market project, calling it a lesson in how not to manage major construction. He argues the project has become a focal point for political bickering between the county and city governments, with each side blaming the other.

The project, initiated in 2019, has undergone six years of planning and adjustments. While it has received building permit approval and is nearing the construction phase, its budget has dramatically increased from over NT$500 million to NT$1.4 billion. The city government is largely responsible for this substantial cost, posing a severe challenge to its finances.

Chiu highlighted the current stalemate, where the city government blames the county government's lengthy review process, while the county government points to the city's significant design changes and resubmissions as the cause of repeated delays. The market's preparatory plan requires approval before formal bidding and construction can begin, a final hurdle yet to be cleared.

To address such issues, Chiu unveiled his "Happy Zhubei Three Arrows" policy. The first arrow emphasizes cautious planning and stronger public participation, including early consultations and public hearings to refine designs. The second arrow focuses on transparent systems to ensure major construction projects proceed without interruption. The third arrow aims to eliminate bureaucratic "traveling documents" by fostering better collaboration between the county and city governments.

Chiu proposes establishing a "Major Public Construction Project Collaboration Memorandum" with the county government. This would involve a single point of contact within the county to streamline reviews and a commitment from the city to improve the quality of submitted documents, thereby reducing administrative procedures and ensuring efficient project execution.