By Karen Bong
KUCHING, March 16: Construction has begun to transform the MBKS swimming pool into a Water Fun Park and Centre for the Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy, with the project slated for completion within two years.
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng officially handed over the project site to the main contractor, Polybuilding Construction Co, yesterday (March 15).
During construction, the MBKS swimming pool will be closed to the public.
“The existing swimming pool will be retained and upgraded with water play structures to cater to family recreation.
“Additionally, the previous restaurant building will be renovated and extended to serve as the gastronomy centre,” he said during his ShallWeeTalk Facebook live today.
In a statement that followed, Wee pointed out that the car park will undergo reconfiguration to include covered drop-off canopies and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations for public convenience.
More importantly, the project will witness incorporation of extensive landscaping and green building principles to achieve Green Building Index (GBI) certification.
“This redevelopment project, jointly funded by the Sarawak government and the City Hall, is a commitment to enhancing public amenities and giving back to the taxpayers,” he said.
Wee also clarified that the gastronomy centre will not be a food hall or hawker centre but rather a space aimed at raising awareness and promoting Kuching’s rich culinary heritage.
The establishment aims to serve as a vibrant community hub supporting local creative industries, offering programmes and facilities related to various creative fields such as literature, design, crafts, folk art, media arts, film, and music, covered by the Unesco Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
The centre will foster innovation and collaboration within these creative fields.
Throughout the project’s implementation, public access to Kuching park will remain unaffected.
Wee assured, “We seek public understanding and assure that MBKS will minimise any inconvenience caused by the construction activities around the immediate surroundings of the project site.” — DayakDaily
