TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-yi (侯友宜) is visiting Australia to consult with government officials and experts on a series of infrastructure projects.
Hou will lead a delegation to visit Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, arriving in Australia on Monday and returning to Taiwan on March 26, reported UDN. During his visit, Hou will consult on issues such as the New Taipei Dome project and a fireworks show that will span the Tamsui River and incorporate the Danjiang Bridge.
New Taipei is reportedly planning to announce the site of a new sports arena and commercial complex by the summer. Previous reports suggest that potential sites for the 50,000-seat sports dome have been narrowed down to Shulin or Tamsui.
To select a suitable location and design for the project, Hou will visit the Populous architecture firm at its regional office in Brisbane. The Kansas-headquartered company has designed multiple stadiums that maximize entertainment options and commercial functionality.
In Sydney, Hou will consult with local specialists and government officials on large public fireworks displays. By meeting with the teams behind the world-famous Sydney Harbor New Year’s Eve celebration, New Taipei hopes to raise the technical standards of fireworks shows in Tamsui to boost international visibility, per UDN.
While in Australia, the mayor will also visit nonprofit healthcare organizations, including HammondCare and Orygen. At HammondCare, the delegation will consider initiatives for treating elderly patients with dementia. With Orygen, officials will discuss the establishment of centers focused on mental health for young people.
The mayor's itinerary also includes a visit to Sydney Water for exchanges on municipal water resource management, as well as a visit to the New South Wales Parliament. Hou will also attend a luncheon with overseas Taiwanese, where he will be joined by a separate delegation of New Taipei lawmakers, led by City Council Speaker Chiang Ken-huang (蔣根煌).
