Yuguang Island North Road Project Stalls Over Ecological Review; Chen Ting-fei Demands Inter-agency Coordination Within Two Weeks

To improve traffic congestion during large events on Yuguang Island in Anping District, Tainan City, while also preserving the ecological integrity of the conservation forest, Legislative Yuan member Chen Ting-fei convened a site inspection on the 23rd, inviting agencies including the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Taiwan International Ports Corporation Kaohsiung Branch, Tainan City Government's Public Works Bureau, and Agriculture Bureau. The meeting focused on resolving issues related to the northern section of the 'Yuguang Island Beach North-South Planned Road Project,' particularly road development and the delisting of the sand-control conservation forest. Chen demanded that relevant agencies complete technical coordination within two weeks to accelerate project implementation.

Balancing Conservation and Tourism: Aiming for Approval in the Third Review

Chen Ting-fei stated that the total budget for the Yuguang Island Beach North-South Planned Road Project is approximately NT$25 million, commissioned by Taiwan International Ports Corporation and executed by Tainan City's Public Works Bureau. While the southern road and parking lot were completed in June last year, the northern road has failed to pass two rounds of review due to its impact on the sand-control conservation forest. Despite the parking lot being finished, the NT$9.5 million northern road construction remains stalled, disrupting overall traffic flow.

Tainan City Councilor Zhou Li-jin and Yuguang Village Chief Lin Ning-feng, who attended the inspection, noted that recent large-scale tourism events such as music festivals have drawn massive crowds to Yuguang Island. Existing road capacity is insufficient, leading to frequent traffic congestion. If the northern road remains unconnected, future large events may require island closures and shuttle services, negatively impacting residents' daily lives and limiting tourism development. As such, the local community strongly urges the swift advancement of the project.

Chen emphasized that Yuguang Island possesses a valuable sand-control conservation forest that serves critical functions in windbreak, sand stabilization, and ecological preservation. Therefore, road development must balance environmental protection with local development, seeking a win-win solution rather than an either-or choice.

In response to the two failed conservation forest delisting reviews, Chen demanded that the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Tainan City's Public Works Bureau, and Agriculture Bureau hold intensive technical discussions within two weeks. Instead of relying solely on document exchanges, they must meet face-to-face to address reviewers' concerns regarding sand stabilization, ecological impact, drainage systems, and road safety. They are to revise plans accordingly and optimize road alignment and width design to minimize impact on trees and the ecological environment.

She also instructed the Tainan City Public Works Bureau to complete the third revised report and supplementary materials by early September, urging the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency to promptly convene a review committee. The goal is to secure approval in the third review, enabling the timely completion of the northern road and creating a sustainable harbor tourism environment that balances transportation convenience, tourism growth, and ecological preservation.