Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman is confident that the Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) will benefit the State economically, socially and environmentally, when completed.

During his inaugural KK Rotary Club lecture entitled "My Vision for Sabah" recently, he said the TAED is incomparable in terms of development.

"TAED is a 348-hectare integrated beach front development located in Tanjung Aru. To create a sustainable development like no other in the region, it needs to be, not only economically viable but also socially and environmentally acceptable," he said.

"I engaged the best consultants in the world so that TAED will set a high benchmark for all future such developments in Malaysia and the region," he said to applause from the 400-strong audience at Shangrila Tg Aru Resort.

By specifically developing TAED with low-impact residential, hotel and commercial properties, Musa said the State Government will not only be able to raise the necessary funds for construction, but also to finance the maintenance of all public areas of the development, including the new beach and park.

"There is no other development comparable to TAED. The project is envisioned to be well-positioned to benefit the economy, community and environment", he added.

In terms of land reclamation along the Kota Kinabalu seafront, Musa recognised that the issue has been a source of aggravation to many, especially those in conservation.

"To the dismay of many, previous administrations granted approvals for reclamation for the purpose of commercial development from Likas Bay all the way to Tanjung Aru.

"How much more can the city take? I made a bold decision and froze all KK seafront land applications and even went to court to wrestle back those approved," he said.

Musa said he took the initiative a step further when in 2015, the Legislative State Assembly successfully passed a landmark bill to ban land reclamation beyond the designated boundary as means of protecting coastal lands along the Kota Kinabalu City Front.