Having realized that living condition and income of the people residing on both banks of the Golok River are below the average standard of living of those in other regions, the Government of Thailand and Malaysia have made efforts to improve the well-being and income of the people in the Golok river basin. The Ministry of Agriculture of Malaysia on 26 February 1979. The first meeting of the ministerial committee was held on 24 October 1979 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and several cooperation projects were agreed upon, including the Study for the Golok River Basin Development Project.

Subsequently, the governments of both countries requested technical assistance from the Government of Australia in the Golok river basin development study. Thus, the Australian Government sent the consultant to conduct the planning study of the Golok river basin from September 1983 to September 1985.

1. To maintain a clear borderline between Thailand and Malaysia especially the Golok river mouth.

2. To facilitate navigation through the Golok river mouth.

3. To mitigate flooding in the lower part of the Golok river basin.

4. To promote aqua culture in the Tak Bai river.

5. To improve the living conditions of the people in the Golok river basin.

The Golok River Mouth Improvement Project in Narathiwat Province is one of the high priority projects under the feasibility study of the Golok River Basin Planning executed during 1983-1985. Several projecr of the following nature were recommended:

                            1. Flood mitigation.

                            2. Water resources development for agriculture and domestic consumption.

                            3. Agricultural development including livestock, fishery, and forestry.

                            4. Navigation development at the Golok river mouth.

                            5. Provision of sufficient public utilities.

The Government of Australia rendered assistance by engaging the Consultant on conduct the feasibility study of the Golok River Mouth Improvement Project and the perform detailed design. The study started with the collection of the following data:

                            1. Data from mapping surveys of the sea bed on the east side of the Gulf of Thailand, conducted by the Harbour Department in September 1983 and July 1984.

                            2. Data from a mapping survey of the sea bed at Tumpat-Kelantan, conducted by the Navy Army of Malaysia from April-June 1984.

                            3. Survey of wave direction and height.

                            4. Tidal data at the Golok River mouth and mean sea level.

                            5. Current speed at the Golok river mouth.

                            6. Coastal current.

                            7. Random sampling and average size of sea bed deposits. This data was obtained from various agencies and covered a period of 33 years.

After data collection, physical modeling of the Golok river mouth and adjacent coastal area at a scale of 1:100 was carried out in the hydraulic laboratory of the Research and Laboratory Division (Office of Research and Development at present) of the Royal Irrigation Department. A 28 X 23 m physical model consists of a coastal model having fixed bed made of mortar at the Golok and Tak Bai river mouths and the moveable bed made of fine sand with an average grain size of 0.1 mni, diameter (D50) at the shallow part near coastal area, a wave maker of 20m long with an adjustable wave making panel a wave probe and recorder, a current meter and others. The model test was executed by determining several alternatives of breakwater and testing with the designated wave conditions and water discharge of the Golok River as follows:

                            1. Water discharge of the Golok River ranging from 500 to 2.000 m3 second.

                            2. Significant wave height H8 = 2.57 m with a period T = 8.5 seconds. These values were assessed for the northeast monsoon during December to March.

From the comparison of various alternatives of breakwater, the most feasible breakwater in terms of engineering and drainage aspects had a width at the entrance of 200 m, side slope of 1:1.5, crease elevation of MSL+5 m, average depth of 3m and length of about 800 m on the Malaysian side and 350 m on the Thai side. However, the study and model test in 1984 had the following constraints:

                            1. The model test was carried out for the wave in only one direction.

                            2. These were columns in the model area which affects the tested wave.

                            3. The physical model covered coastal area than actual conditions.

Because the recommended breakwater alignment lay entirely in the Malaysian territory and the Government of Malaysia required the construction passing the border line between the two countries, additional study, data collection and physical modeling were required to assess the potential impacts of coastal erosion. Both the Thai and Malaysian governments requested further technical assistance from the Government of Australia in conducting the feasibility study, detailed design and bidding documents.

The feasibility study commended in July 1991 by collecting data in the field and conducting the physical model at the hydraulic laboratory of the Royal Irrigation Department under the supervision of the Thailand-Malaysia Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG). The study was completed in June 1993. Three alternatives of breakwater at MSL-2 m, MSL-3m, and MSL-4m were proposed. The JTWG approved the results of study and selected the breakwater at MSL-3 m. then the detailed design was carried out based on the results of study and bidding documents were prepared. These were completed in June 1994 and subsequently approved by the JTWG.

The Golok River Mouth Improvement Project in Narathiwat Province is one of the high priority projects under the feasibility study of the Golok River Basin Planning executed during 1983-1985. Several projecr of the following nature were recommended:

Phase Iwork included the contruction of a Thai breakwater protruding into the sea with a total length of 345.70 m, river training groynes , revetment, dredging work at the entrance of the Tak Bai river to a width of approximately 105 m and erosion protection work along the Thai shoreline for about 20 km from the Golok river mouth by constructing 30 shore connected groynes. The work was started in June 1996 and completed on 31 March 1999.

Phase II work or Common Works included the dredging of the Golok entrance channel of approximately 1.350 m long and the protection work for the Transit Point B. the phase II work was jointly implemented and the cost incurred was equally apportioned between Thailand and Malaysia. The Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand and Minister of Agriculture of Malaysia mutually signed the Agreement for the Common Works on 8 March 1997. The dredging work was started in March 1998 and completed in August 1999. The protection work for the Transit Point B was commenced in November 1998 and completed on 31 December 1998.

                            1. Stabilization of the international boundary between Thailand and Malaysia

                            2. Decrease in erosion along the Thai shoreline starting from the Golok river mouth northward to about 22 kilometers.

                            3. Facilitation of navigation at the Golok river mouth throughout the year.

                            4. Promotion of fishery and increase income of people from aquaculture in Tak Bai lagoon.

                            5. Mitigation of flood hazards in the lower Golok river basin covering the sub-districts of Ko Sathon,Khosit, and Bang Khunthong.

                            6. More employment and investment in area.