Storms and waves take a toll on park facilities

 by Jacqueline Raphael, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 6, 2012, Friday

UPROOTED: Several trees along the beach in Taman Selera which fell during a recent storm.

  

MIRI: The monsoon season here has destroyed a number of public facilities in several recreational parks in the city, especially those along the beach.

A survey by The Borneo Post yesterday found that several facilities at Taman Selera, a popular picnic site suffered several damaged facilities following strong currents and heavy rains since several weeks ago.

Two jetties at the beach had also collapsed due to the high waves while a wooden bridge built for the convenience of visitors to the beach was damaged and is no longer useable. Traders at the recreational park said high waves with strong currents were to be blamed for the serious damages to facilities there since two weeks ago. “A number of concrete benches were also swept away to sea, along with signboards which were put up along the beach,” said a trader yesterday. He also expressed his fear concerning several trees in the area that seemed ready to collapse at any moment, especially with the strong winds accompanying the monsoon.

According to him, since two weeks ago, more than 20 trees in the area had fallen, some close to the stalls where patrons normally dine and drink. “I worry that some of the large trees there will one day fall on unsuspecting visitors,” he said adding that less visitors are coming to the beach now due to safety reasons.