Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) general manager, Mohidin Ishak, said the report of the CBD masterplan study, along with the one for Bintulu Urban Regional Masterplan Study had been submitted to the State Planning Authority and are expected to be approved.

"The CBD involves the development of what we identified as Downtown Bintulu as part of the future development as we strive to approach a friendly industrial city status, " he said in a briefing on CBD at the Petronas LNG Complex here yesterday.

The briefing was one of the agenda at the fourth inter-agency networking hi-tea initiated by the Resident's Office and hosted by Malayssia LNG Sdn. Bhd.

Bintulu Deputy Resident, Bujang Budin, led the visiting delegates comprising heads of government departments, coroporate organisations, community leaders and prominent local business figures attending the hi-tea.

According to Mohidin, CBD involved the redevelopment of an area spanning from one side of Sungai Sebiew, a tributary of Batang Kemena, right up to a section of Jalan Tanjung Batu.

The development would be divided into six sectors, one of which is a waterfront project which commenced last year.  This would also include some land reclamation works.

The project would also see the old Bintulu airport fronting the town centre would be redevelop into green areas, with some part for a city hall and new shophouses.

A third bridge over Batang Kemena near the river mouth would also from a new landmark here, apart from proposals for a central boulevard, town square, formal garden, public parks and convention centre, to name a few.

Meanwhile, Bujang in his speech said beyond the urban perimeter, Bintulu was also envisaged to become a developed division with a friendly industrial city within.

He revealed that the nearby Tatau bazaar is currently undergoing transformation to become a new township and another centre for diversified economic activities in Bintulu Division, particularly with commissioning of a pulp and paper mill there as well as the accomplishment of a reforestation programme.

"The level of acheivement in transforming Bintulu into a friendly industrial city would be determined by the contributions from all quarters that have interests here," he said.

While praising BDA for devising frameworks of future development here, he said the roles of land contributions from non-governmental organisations-profit-oriented or otherwise- had always been regarded as important in achieving the goal....END.