KUCHING: The Bau Sports Arena along Jalan Jambusan has been completed and is now awaiting formal handover before opening its doors to the public.
Deputy Minister of Transport Datuk Henry Harry Jinep said the RM10 million facility marks a significant addition to the district’s community infrastructure, with only commissioning procedures left before full operation.
“As the construction of this People’s Project initiative is funded by the state government, the Bau Local Council will be tasked with managing it,” he told Sarawak Tribune.
Work on the project began in October 2023. The arena has emerged as the town’s newest multi-purpose sports and recreation hub, housing three futsal courts, six badminton courts, a Muay Thai training area, and an open-air gym.
The community can look forward to a wide range of facilities and uses. The multipurpose hall cum-badminton courts is a flexible space for indoor sports, community events, seminars, gatherings, or light recreation.
Sufficient parking has been made available at the arena, which includes dedicated bays for disabled motorists, to serve visitors and local residents.
The arena is seen not just as a sports venue but as a centre for recreation, community activities, and social bonding. It is believed to be part of a broader push by Henry, the state government and the local authorities to decentralise development and bring improved infrastructure to areas beyond the Bau town centre.
Henry believes that placing the arena in Jalan Jambusan, an area previously quiet and sparsely developed, helps distribute growth more evenly across the district.
Once operational, the Bau Sports Arena will join existing facilities such as the mini stadium, and the civic centre, to form a significant venues in Bau for sports, recreation, and community events.
For the people of Bau and surrounding villages, the arena means access to modern, safe, and versatile sports facilities without travelling far as well as venue for youth sports development, community events, and grassroots gatherings.
The full operation of the facility will also means potential job creation through facility management and community programming, a boost to local economy and possibly increased interest in sports and healthy lifestyle.
According to Henry, there is also a plan to incorporate a club house at the Bau Sports Arena under the second phase, but that is not going to happen in the near future.
“When there is a need to have one, depending on the number of users of the arena, we may seek allocation from the state government to build it (club house),” he said.
For the local authorities, the completed Bau Sports Arena fulfils itself a long-standing commitment to uplift infrastructure and community amenities under the broader development plans for Bau up to 2030.
Said Henry: “Bau is aggressively transforming itself to greater Bau to create business opportunities, employment opportunities, and to cater for a good environment for living to be enjoyed by the local people.
“The population of Bau has increased from 72,000 in 2023 to 75,000 now, an increase by 3,000, which is very fast. With the completion of Pan Borneo, more local people are coming from Kuching to live in their houses in the villages and commute to-and-fro to work due to the high cost of living in the city.
“With this kind of scenario, we expect our population will continue to increase and thus more developments are needed to ensure the local people can enjoy a good living environment in Bau.”
