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FEBRUARY 2001
I received some pictures taken by Wouter vd Zee, a PhD researcher who
worked on this outcrop in 1999. Have a look.
Features of Interest
The area around Tajong Lobang is not only beautiful with spectacular
seacliffs and headlands, it is also surprisingly rich in history. This is
where the Second World War came to Sarawak on 16th December 1941, a mere
nine days after the bombing of Pearl Habour. The lighthouse
that witness the invasion of the Japanese army, and the Governor's House,
the first target of attack, still stand atop the headland.
Next to the lighthouse is a Second World War
Memorial, commemorating the oil field workers killed during the war.
Many interesting geological features can be observed at Tanjong Lobang,
including various types of fossils and sedimentary features that provide
evidence for the deposition of the rocks in a shallow sea 9 to 15 million
years ago.
The spectacular seacliffs, headlands, and secluded bays in an
unspoiled natural setting make the area ideal for short hikes and
exploration. A network of dirt trails should be established to link
headlands, outcrops, light house, war memorial and beaches. Information
phamplets should also be made, with maps, photos and text showing area of
intrests and the location of trails.
Site Layout & Design
The headlands between Tanjong Lobang and Luak Bay are rather
restricted in terms of access, as the area is surrounded by school, and
government and private properties. The best access would be from Taman
Selera, where parking bays and other public facilities are available. Our
proposal is that Taman Selera be used as the starting point, and from here
the visitor walk along the beach to get to the first headland, and
observing interesting geological features along the way. The visitors then
ascend the headland to visit the light house and the Second World War
Memorial. From the light house, a series of dirt trails could be
established, to provide access to and link the numerous headlands and
secluded bays in the area. The location of the trails can only be
established with the help of the Miri Council and relevant government
departments (eg Land & Survey).
Site Protection, Maintenance & Safety
The isolated nature of Tanjong Lobang makes safety an issue. Security
posts may be established at strategic points to ensure the safety of
visitors. Falling-rocks is a potential hazard and warning signs should be
posted beneath headlands/seacliffs. Access to some sites along the beach
is tide dependant, so monthly tide tables should be made available at the
information boards.
Costs
Cost should not be too high as access and parking are available. Dirt
trails, like those in national park, should not cost too much (RM1500?) to
set up and maintain. Cost of three information boards is estimated at
RM1,500, making the total cost RM3,000. However, these are
finger-in-the-air costs and may not reflect reality (us being geologists
and not engineers!). It also depends on whether any railing and surfacing
work needs to be done at the headland, which can provide spectacular views
of the sea especially at sunset.