A project to construct a Formula 3 (F3) racetrack in Taichung passed an environmental impact assessment on Thursday, with the developer expecting to hold four international races at the venue each year.
The proposed racing circuit is to be constructed at Lihpao Land (麗寶樂園) — previously known as the Yamay Recreation World (月眉育樂世界), the nation’s first build-and-transfer amusement park — in the city’s Houli District (后里).
The developer, Yue-Mei International Development Corp (月眉國際開發), said it would hold four international races and 50 private races every year, as well as constructing a hotel complex with 585 rooms to accommodate an estimated 3.8 million tourists per year.
Following Penbay International Circuit in Dapeng Bay (大鵬灣), Pingtung County, the proposed project would be the second such raceway in the nation that would be qualified to host all the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) G2-level events except for Formula 1 races, the developer said.
The developer said it would cap the noise of racing vehicles at 110dB and would not hold night races, and would construct noise barriers that comply with noise control regulations.
Environmental impact assessment committee member and National Taiwan University oceanography professor Song Gwo-shyh (宋國士) said that the proposed racetrack is adjacent to an active fault line that caused a catastrophic earthquake in 1935, but the developer did not mention any response measures to earthquake disasters. Song added that the developer has yet to submit a geological survey of the area.
Song said the developer should reinforce the structural integrity of the facility against earthquakes to guarantee the safety of track visitors.
The committee questioned whether the extraction of underground water at the racing facility could lead to ground subsidence at the bullet train’s tracks, as the proposed racetrack is only 400m from Taiwan High Speed Rail tracks.
The developer has said it would plant 683 native trees in the area to contain air pollution, however, the committee said the developer did not evaluate whether there is enough room in the facility for those trees.
The committee approved the development project, but asked the developer to submit a complete survey of the geology and groundwater system in the area, as well as plans to clean and recycle oil spill and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The developer should also conduct noise monitoring in sensitive areas surrounding the facility, the committee said.
STAY AWAY: An official said people should avoid disturbing snakes, as most do not actively attack humans, but would react defensively if threatened Taitung County authorities yesterday urged the public to stay vigilant and avoid disturbing snakes in the wild, following five reported snakebite cases in the county so far this year. Taitung County Fire Department secretary Lin Chien-cheng (林建誠) said two of the cases were in Donghe Township (東河) and involved the Taiwan habus, one person was bit by a Chinese pit viper near the South Link Railway and the remaining two were caused by unidentified snakes. He advised residents near fields to be cautious of snakes hiding in shady indoor areas, especially when entering or leaving their homes at night. In case of a
A tropical disturbance off the southeastern coast of the Philippines might become the first typhoon of the western Pacific typhoon season, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The system lacks a visible center and how it would develop is only likely to become clear on Sunday or Monday, the CWA said, adding that it was not yet possible to forecast the potential typhoon's effect on Taiwan. The American Meteorological Society defines a tropical disturbance as a system made up of showers and thunderstorms that lasts for at least 24 hours and does not have closed wind circulation.
ENERGY RESILIENCE: Although Alaska is open for investments, Taiwan is sourcing its gas from the Middle East, and the sea routes carry risks, Ho Cheng-hui said US government officials’ high-profile reception of a Taiwanese representative at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference indicated the emergence of an Indo-Pacific energy resilience alliance, an academic said. Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an (潘孟安) attended the conference in Alaska on Thursday last week at the invitation of the US government. Pan visited oil and gas facilities with senior US officials, including US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy and US Senator Daniel Sullivan. Pan attending the conference on behalf of President William Lai (賴清德) shows a significant elevation in diplomatic representation,
Credit departments of farmers’ and fishers’ associations blocked a total of more than NT$180 million (US$6.01 million) from being lost to scams last year, National Police Agency (NPA) data showed. The Agricultural Finance Agency (AFA) said last week that staff of farmers’ and fishers’ associations’ credit departments are required to implement fraud prevention measures when they serve clients at the counter. They would ask clients about personal financial management activities whenever they suspect there might be a fraud situation, and would immediately report the incident to local authorities, which would send police officers to the site to help, it said. NPA data showed
RSS