Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JAPAN DEC 2020 84 JAPAN issue, setting Tomakomai up to finally resolve to actively pursue a bid. Discussions between the prefecture and city were even reported at the city’s regular council meeting. Ahopeful-sounding city official said, “The prefecture agreed with us about the designated site, just in case there were to be an IR bid and we got approval for the Uenae area. Our understanding is that progress has been made toward the bid.” THE FRUITS OF TOMAKOMAI’S LABORS The reason for this progress is undoubtedly the result of Tomakomai’s careful and thorough approach to resolving issues for the bid. According to a local newspaper, the environmental impact assessment report concluded that, with consideration to the land plot highlighted in the nature-rich Uenae area near New Chitose Airport, “At least 100 hectares can be secured for business.” Among the central issues is the safety of local birds of prey, such as the northern goshawk, which is a designated national treasure. Their natural breeding was researched from March to July 2018 and led to instructions that additional research was necessary. According to the Ministry of Environment’s “Procedures in Protection of Birds of Prey (revised),” when making considerations for goshawk protection measures it is preferable that two nesting cycles of nests must have been completed in a particular area, and that the area must have included nests where birds were actually breeding and hosting eggs, before research can be considered in any environmental impact decision. Officials say this requirement was fulfilled by the landowner between May and August of this year in the form of additional research of the birds’ home range. The city is now in discussions with the prefecture based on the series of environmental surveys, expert 的な環境対策を講じることや「開発面積は50ha未満の整備」とい った要件を盛り込む方向性も確認。提案事業者にはより詳細な環 境調査を求めるとしている。 再びスタートラインに 苫小牧市にとっては何よりの朗報になった。 現在はIRに関する予算編成は組まれておらず、港をはじめとし た街の活性化重視のスタンスを取っているが、これまでにIRについ て十分シミュレーションしており、準備不足になることはないだろ う。 そもそも、苫小牧市では2014年にIR誘致へチャレンジするとし、 市長選がスタート。岩倉博文市長が勝利した。2017年には新たに 国際リゾート戦略室も設置され、海外IR運営会社も「ハードロッ ク」をはじめ「ラッシュストリート」「クレアベスト」「モヒガン」と市役 所近くのメインストリートに相次いで事務所を構えた。 それだけに、昨年11月の撤退時に市長は「残念としか言いよう The environmental impact assessment report concluded that, with consideration to the land plot highlighted in the nature- rich Uenae area near New Chitose Airport, “At least 100 hectares can be secured for business.” 市が6月に公表した環境影響調査報告書 は、新千歳空港に近く、自然豊かな植苗地 区の調査エリア約900haについて対策を講 じれば「少なくても100ha程度の事業用地 を確保できる」と結論付けた。