Kaohsiung's Water Conservation and Eco-friendly Initiatives / 水與綠的城市─高雄
Kaohsiung's Water Conservation and Eco-friendly Initiatives
◎English text by Yi-Chun Lin
◎Photo courtesy of Public Works Bureau
The World Games 2009, successfully promoted Kaohsiung internationally. With its beautiful landscape and modern infrastructure, it impressed the events' participants from all over the world.
Kaohsiung City government has developed multiple construction projects that adhere to a greener ideology. Even the World Games' Main Stadium integrated environmental concepts and was highly praised. These environmental projects infuse energy saving and carbon reduction concepts, enabling residents to enjoy a more ecologically friendly environment. Some of these ecological projects include the building of large parks, the green beautifying of vacant lands and the establishment of public transportation networks.
Water conservation reflects Kaohsiung's distinguishing features of being a waterfront city. Several wetland and ecological corridors have been added to Kaohsiung's landscape. Water conservation projects include the preservation of its rivers, including Hojing Creek, Love River and Cianjhen Rivers. The Love River got its beautiful new look after the city underwent a large renovation project that transformed it into a city landmark. The Love River- Ruyi Lake renovation project was completed in 2007, which now has a multi-functional purpose such as a nature reserve and flood control. With the completion of the Ruyi Lake renovation it is hoped that it will enrich surroundings and increase the development potential for northern Kaohsiung. Houjing Creek's water quality was also significantly improved after the Nanzi Wastewater Sewer System was completed.
The city government is also undertaking several other eco-friendly projects which include pollution prevention, flood control, green landscaping, bike paths and scenic suspension bridge. All of these projects have been designed to make the rivers more attractive. Other projects include better lighting along the Cianjhen River and Basin No.5, the Basin No.1 Scenic Bridge, the ongoing renovation of the No. 2 Canal, the landscaping project of Cianjhen River and the renovation of Singren Bridge. The City Government hopes to improve Kaohsiung's image and the charm of this waterfront city.
These waterfront renovations are also linking up the ecological wetland corridors and parklands. These include Yuanjhong Harbor Wetland, Banping Lake Wetland, Jhouzai Wetland, Botanical-gardens, She Zih Lin Wetland Basin, Benhe Village Flood Detention Pond, Neiweipi Wetland, Love River Wetland and Yanshuei Harbour Creek Wetland. The City Government has even set aside valuable urban land, worth more than 15 billion NT dollars, to create the 10-hectared Aozihdi Forest Park. This will be followed by the completion of Dapingding Tropical Botanical Gardens and the Yencheng 01 Green 08 City Green Corridors. The City Government is constantly striving to improve Kaohsiung's ecological environment. The city government is also actively encouraging private enterprises to adopt these green areas and carry out projects such as green landscaping of vacant lands. Presently there are 5.8 square meters per resident in Kaohsiung city.
The Kaohsiung's water conservation and eco-friendly initiatives can also be found within Kaohsiung City's transportation systems. These projects include initiatives of energy-saving and carbon reduction. The Kaohsiung has developed six different bike paths that comprise of a 200km network that runs throughout the city. This has increased leisure cycling and it is estimated another 50 kilometers will be added in 2010. In March 2009, the government also established a public bicycle renting system. There are 50 renting stations throughout the City, providing 4500 bicycles for rent. Another eco-friendly transportation project that began in May 2009 is the 168 Circle Bus Line. The public transport network has linked up the bike paths, buses and MRT systems.
Kaohsiung City Government's has been meticulous in its environmental planning. It has successfully been transformed into a city that promotes water conservation and eco-friendly initiatives. We encourage you to discover this newly renovated green city.
水與綠的城市─高雄
◎文／凌卓民
◎照片提供／高雄市政府工務局
2009高雄世界運動會，成功將高雄推向國際舞台，來自全世界各地的參賽人員對高雄市的城市景觀與完善建設留下深刻印象，融入綠建築概念的世運主場館更博得一片好評。
高雄市的進步有目共睹！高雄市政府各項建設緊扣著「水與綠」意象，一方面強調出高雄水岸城市的特色，另一方面融入節能減碳概念，讓市民在現代都會生活中與自然生態環境相伴。
從河川的整治、濕地生態廊道建構、大型公園闢建、閒置空地綠美化到大眾運輸交通網絡，都是基於「水與綠」的政策。高雄市致力於三大河川整治，由北而南有後勁溪、愛河與前鎮河，愛河整治後所展現的亮眼面貌更成為熱門觀光景點，於2007年完工的「愛河之心如意湖」，兼具有防洪、生態等多功能，同時增加北高雄的開發潛力，豐富高雄生活風貌。
而後勁溪不僅因為楠梓污水下水道系統完工，水質獲得全面提升，市府也以分階段進行的防污、防洪及綠美化、自行車道、景觀吊橋等建設，讓河岸更加可親與迷人。此外前鎮河及五號船渠照明改善、一號船渠景觀橋，以及進行中的二號運河再造計畫、前鎮河景觀改善及興仁橋改建等工程，營造水岸城市─高雄的迷人風情。
高雄市的水岸建設還能串連起濕地生態廊道與公園綠地；包括援中港濕地、半屏湖濕地、洲仔濕地、原生植物園、檨仔林埤濕地、本和里滯洪地、美術館內惟埤濕地、愛河濕地及鹽水港溪濕地。市府更以價值150億元之市區黃金地段，打造十公頃的凹仔底森林公園，緊接著大坪頂熱帶植物園完工、鹽埕01綠08都市綠廊持續建置，讓高雄成為鳥語花香的綠色城市。市府不僅開闢大型綠地空間，更獎勵民間企業認養綠地，實施閒置空地綠美化等措施，現在，平均每位高雄市民可享有5.8平方公尺的綠地面積。
「水與綠」也落實在高雄市的交通運輸，逐步實現節能減碳的理想。從高雄捷運通車啟用超過200公里的自行車道，六大系統遍佈全高雄市，成功帶動民眾運動休閒風氣，預計至2010年全長將達250公里！不僅如此，在2009年三月份，市府推出公共腳踏車租賃系統，50處租賃站遍佈城市各地，提供4500輛自行車，五月份時推出168環狀幹線公車，交通網絡整合起自行車道、公車、與捷運等大眾運輸系統。
市府精心擘劃，高雄成功轉化為「水與綠」的幸福城市，讓人驚喜地發現這個嶄新而充滿活力的城市。
援中港濕地公園
Yuanjhong Wetland Park