Bandar Seri Begawan - The construction of 1,500 houses in Bukit Beruang for the National Housing Scheme of Brunei Darussalam was delayed due to adverse weather conditions. The work is estimated to be completed towards the last quarter of 2013.

According to the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB), the adverse weather conditions experienced since the project first began in 2011 had caused some delay, as rains were recorded on 105 and 140 days in 2011 and 2012 respectively. The soil condition with 30 per cent moisture content is twice of that at the housing project in Mentiri, whose completion progress is six per cent ahead of schedule.

To help push the project ahead, the contractor - TEE International Limited, Singapore - has made various action plans. TEE has increased their machineries by. 50 per cent and is at its optimum level. In addition to that, TEE has, to date, increased their manpower by 30 per cent and is currently still increasing. Furthermore, working hours have also been taken into account to optimise work during good weather conditions. It has also engaged more experienced sub-contractors on building and infrastructure works and provided financing to them. In total, it has invested B$6 million worth of heavy machineries and equipment for the project.

The construction of 1,500 houses in Bukit Beruang, at a cost of B$147.5 million, is being carried out in 127 hectares of land to meet the increasing demand for more housing for Brunei citizens and reduce the waiting period, as well as to meet the country's vision to achieve a high quality of life for its people, which is in line with the Brunei Vision 2035 objectives.

The construction of residential areas in the Tutong District is hoped to bring about socio-economic benefits to the community, where local businesses will benefit from the influx of population to the area, the residents will benefit from the shared public amenities brought in to serve the housing scheme, among others.

The development comes with facilities for future public amenities such as schools, mosques, commercial facilities, community centre and parks, recreational areas and playgrounds.

The 1,500 houses project involves the building of 1,000 terrace and 500 semi-detached houses, construction of bulk earthworks including platforms for future development, primary and secondary road system, drainage system, water reticulation and elevated water reservoir, power and electrical network, sewerage reticulation and treatment plant, telecommunication fibre optic system, as well as soft and hard landscape within the housing scheme, community areas and parks.

The project's master planner is L&L Consultants, Singapore; Architectural Design: Arkitek Ibrahim, Brunei; Engineering Design (C, S, M&E ): Baharuddin PMS Associates, Brunei; and BEDB Project Management: HSS Integrated Sdn Bhd, Malaysia in affiliation with Petar Consultant Perunding Sdn Bhd, Brunei.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin