Land taken back for public housing

The 5,500 square metres block of land, behind the University of Macau, will be used for the construction of public housing

The Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT) reclaimed a plot of land in Taipa yesterday that had been “illegally occupied” and will use it for construction of public housing, they said in statement.
The site located in Taipa’s Estrada Nordeste and Rua de Choi Long, behind the University of Macau, has an area of nearly 2,500 square metres, which “together with another adjacent land taken back in June this year, with 3,000 square metres, will total 5,500 square metres to be used for public housing,” the DSSOPT stated.
In April, the Administration discovered that an illegal depot for construction materials and machinery had been built at the block. In the following months, it began the eviction process.
Occupants have displayed no resistance and left the area peacefully, but left some materials and solid waste behind. The government will now begin preparations for construction of public housing, in line with the government’s intention to build 19,000 units by the end of 2012.
“To avoid delays in the process of public housing construction in this site, the Administration has speeded up work on the project planning and is now going ahead with preparations for carrying out work on the land,” the DSSOPT said.
According to official figures, from March 2009 the government has reclaimed 33 blocks of land, with a total area of approximately 162,700 square metres. Just this year 17 sites were recovered, with a total area of about 87,200 square metres.