Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PUBLIC LAND LEASING
In recent years, government expropriation of private land and cheap leasing of
public land to developers has been a contentious issue in Taiwan.
Shanyuan Beach
(
Shānyuán Hǎishuǐ Yùchǎng
), the longest swimmable beach
between Hualien and Taitung, is an example of public land leasing that has been
hotly contested by locals. The beach was once public and serviced by a range of
local businesses, from B&Bs to a campground and one of the best Italian restaur-
ants in Taiwan. But in 2004, with the promise of bringing jobs to the region, the loc-
al government signed a build-operate-transfer (BOT) agreement with Taipei's
Miramar Group, which required other businesses to vacate the beach.
No environmental impact assessment (EIA) was passed for this project, as
Miramar's initial plans declared their hotel would be 0.9 hectares and, by law, EIAs
are not required for projects under 0.9 hectares. However, after Miramar applied
for exansion permits, and ended up with a resort six times the size of the original
plans, the Environmental Protection Agency demanded the county government
submit an EIA. The Taitung County quickly pushed one through in a meeting that
consisted largely of its own county council members. The High Court and Supreme
Court ruled several times that the EIA was flawed and construction must cease.
Taitung locals, headed by aboriginal groups, were at the forefront of the fight for
the beach, holding protest concerts and and taking Miramar to court over building
violations. In October 2013 the Supreme Administrative Court made a final ruling
that the construction had been illegal from the start and must be terminated.
Miramar accepted the results.
The court ruling may affect far more than Shanyuan Beach and its surrounding
environment. Dozens of similarly large construction projects have been green-lit on
the coast but, following the case of Shanyuan Beach, it's likely developers will re-
think their approach.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Fuyuan Forest Recreational Area
In the late 19th and early 20th century Taiwan dominated the world market of camphor
production. Extracted from the stately camphor tree, which grew in abundance at mid-
level elevations, the substance was used in everything from embalming fluid to medicine
to insect repellent.
A few kilometres off Highway 9, in an area of serene natural beauty, the 235-hectare
Fuyuan Forest Recreational Area
(Húdié gǔ wēnquán dùjiàcūn xiǎo zhú, Fùyuán Guójiā Sēnlín
Yóulè Qū;
www.bvr.com.tw
; admission NT$100;
6am-5pm)
, which is run by the Butterfly
