THE government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam is actively engaged in developing the nation as it prepares to undertake the responsibility of building a better, more self-sufficient nation one district at a time.

The Rural and Urban Development Department invited government and private bodies as well as other stakeholders to a briefing with regards to the Master Plan, where invitees were yesterday updated on and encouraged to discuss the Inception Report for the Tutong District Development Plan.

The briefing, which was held at the Multipurpose Hall in Tutong, was a publicity and participation programme aimed at exposing the planned projects and to also gather feedback from stakeholders in the Tutong District, particularly the government and private sector.

The plan involving land-development is one of the longterm goals the department aims to achieve by 2035. It will take into consideration residents and environmental socioeconomic development. It will also see public participation during the later stage of the plan.

The district’s uniqueness in having satisfactory resources in terms of fertile land and water is highly
suitable for agriculture and fisheries and, according to Warwick Newall, Director of Integrated Environmental Consultants, “What we’re looking to do is build on existing projects agriculture and fisheries have started to make Brunei reach self-sufficiency in rice and in terms of Brunei’s initiatives towards land-based aquaculture to relieve pressure on natural and sea-based fisheries.”

Once the development is completed, the main pull for increase in settlement within the Tutong District, as hoped by Newall, is going to remain with its primary resources.

“We are looking to obtain around 1,100 hectares for rice planting, then there’s the livestock and fisheries, which are already occupying 300 hectares that will continue to expand,” he said.

“This will provide ample job opportunities for residents within the district,” he said, before adding, “so long as the environmental policy maintains good environmental standards and are not burdened with development.”
Newall added that the development plan for Tutong District is, “in response to the pressures for growth and growth trends.”

Among the projects that are also in line for the Tutong District includes housing areas as well as improving and developing roads in the district.

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