Table of Contents
                   Introduction
                   Baseline Environmental Conditions
                   Proposed Integrated Development Plans
                   Acknowledgements
                  

                   4.   SHORELINE MANAGEMENT PLAN

               4.1 Management Strategies

To provide the necessary development control, the SMP delineates the coastline into 56 Management Units (MU) based upon wave and current exposure, beach material, beach width, ecological resources and immediate hinterland land use.

For each MU, a basic management strategy is specified, the main strategies being:

Protected: The MU has ecological resources worthy of pro-active preservation. If not already delineated as a marine or national park, the protected areas should be afforded the protection of a cultural heritage or wetland site. The units recommended for protection are: Teluk Usukan, Ambong, Sulaman, Mengkabong, Salut and Sitompok, together with the nearshore islands Pulau Sapangar and Pulau Dinawan.

Development Prohibited: The MU exhibits dynamic morphological characteristics such that the risks involved with shoreline development are high. Thus, no reclamation works and no solid structures seawards of the high-water line are permitted. Twenty-four kilometres of coastline is classified as development prohibited and will be alienated as foreshore reserve under the provisions of the Sabah Water Resources Bill 1998.

Development Restricted: The MU possesses ecological resources of value and consequently only limited development, such as small-scale eco-tourist resorts, should be permitted. Units where development should be restricted include Tg. Gaya and other presently undeveloped headlands in the Sapangar Bay and Pantai Manis areas.

No Development: Resort development is unattractive due to poor marine or hinterland conditions, although commercial development is possible provided they are setback. Forty-seven kilometres of coastline is classified under this management strategy.

Setback: Development of resorts or housing is an attractive option, provided structures are setback from the existing coastline and the existing vegetation fringe is maintained. The main units recommended for this management strategy are Sabandar Bay, Nexus, Tg. Aru, Tg. Melinsum, Papar South and Klias West.

Mixed Development: Major integrated commercial development including coastal structures or reclamations is possible given suitable environmental planning and control. The management units suitable for this management strategy are Sapangar Bay West, East and South, Likas Bay, Kota Kinabalu Water Front, the Timberwell and Kimanis Quarry Jetty frontage, Sipitang and the SFI Jetty area.

Resort Development: The MU exhibits possibilities for major integrated resort development including coastal structures or reclamations. The management units identified as suitable for major integrated resort development are Lema’as, Kinarut and Tg. Tembayang on the West Coast of the Klias peninsula.

Figures 4.1 to 4.5 present the detailed Shoreline Management Plan.

Figure 4.1  Shoreline Management Plan, Tuaran - 81KB

Figure 4.2  Shoreline Management Plan, Kota Kinabalu - 60KB

Figure 4.3  Shoreline Management Plan, Papar - 39KB

Figure 4.4  Shoreline Management Plan, Kuala Penyu - 58KB

Figure 4.5  Shoreline Management Plan, Klias - 65KB

4.2  Setback

One of the main recommendations of the SMP is the enforcement of a setback regulation for permanent constructions on open coastlines. Setback guidelines have been published by DID for several years, but no rigorous enforcement mechanism has been available.

The setback limit recommended by the SMP for open littoral coasts is 60m, although the limit can be relaxed along certain sheltered sections and is higher (100m) for mangrove coastlines, although this figure is the subject of ongoing research. This definition of a setback zone, in addition to the provision under the Sabah Water Resources Enactment 1998 for a foreshore reserve (Figure 4.6), will prevent unnecessary interference with the natural coastal processes and the consequent generation of adverse down-drift impacts.

Figure 4.6  Setback Requirements - 15KB

The development concepts put forward by the SMP will generate a large demand for fill material. In order to avoid the serious environmental impacts that can arise major marine dredging operations, the SMP recommends that a detailed study is initiated to ascertain which offshore and nearshore areas are most suitable for exploitation. The restriction of all borrow dredging to these areas will facilitate tighter state government control.

The SMP also tightens existing controls on dredging operations, requiring that all marine dredging within 1.5 km of the coast or at water depths less than 10m perform a full Detailed EIA regardless of the size of the borrow area prior to issue of TOL. The SMP also recommends the prohibition of borrow dredging in the following areas:

• At water depths less than 5m on an open littoral coast
• Within 1.5km of coral formations with live coral cover >20%, unless prevailing currents prevent adverse impacts from suspended sediment plumes originating from the dredging operations
• Within the foreshore reserve

In addition, all marine dredging works, regardless of location, must execute a comprehensive Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan for the duration of the dredging works, including a post construction environmental audit. This is essential in order to control damage to marine habitats arising from sediment plumes, which originate from dredging and reclamation activities.