Last day to give feedback

PENANG: Today’s the last day for Gurney Drive and Kelawei Road residents to provide feedback on the planned mixed de-velopment project at the site of former International School of Penang (Uplands).

The RM650mil project by Hunza Properties (Penang) Sdn Bhd would consist of two 43-storey service apartment towers and a 37-storey business to-wer and other commercial buil-dings.

Sitting at the site now is a 1916 French-style building with a chapel built by the La Salle brothers as a novitiate and teacher training college. This will be retained.

The Penang Municipal Coun-cil had sent out notices dated June 14 to residents to provide feedback but many said they were not aware of this.

A council spokesman said a 21-day period had been given for residents to give feedback to the council.

But many of them – especially owners of condo units in the Regency, Gurney Park, Arcadia, Desa Mas and the Loke Mansion – said there were not aware of this.

The project has raised concerns about worsening traffic congestion in the area.

A Gurney Drive condo resi-dent, Lynn, said the coun- cil’s notice was only put up on the community notice board and not sent to them individually.

“The traffic jams will cause property here to depreciate as people may start to move out,” she said.

She felt there was no need for a new business tower in the area.

“Office and retail space is plentiful at the nearby Gur- ney Plaza and Gurney Tower,” she said.

Regency condominium re-sident and Uplands principal Ian Kerr, 64, said piling works would endanger the heritage building as well as nearby condominiums.

“Besides the new towers would cast a huge shadow over the heritage building, and that won’t enhance its beauty,” he said.

Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) said it had been publicising the feedback notice and over 100 residents had responded.

Hunza executive chairman Datuk Khor Teng Tong said he would wait for plans to be ap-proved by the council before commenting on public res-ponse to the project.

“We will follow government guidelines and it is up to the people to give their feedback to the council.

“From the very beginning, it has been decided that the heri-tage building at the site would be retained,” he said.

“I, too, am a defender of he-ritage buildings,” added Khor who is also president of the Pe-nang chapter of the Interna-tional Real Estate Federation (SIAPCI) which has a heritage sub-committee.

The 4.1ha freehold property was bought by Hunza for RM97.86mil from the Chris-tian Brothers School in Decem-ber 2004 and will be transfor-med into a development called The Gurney of Tomorrow.

It was earlier revealed that the old chapel would be turned into a food and beverage haven like the ex-convent school in Singapore’s Orchard Road, now a gourmet’s paradise with 30 to 40 restaurants.

Residents can contact the council’s development planning department at Level 16, Komtar (04-2624400) or PHT (04-2642631) to give their feedback.

Hearing for residents who object

PENANG: The Penang Municipal Coun-cil will hold a hearing if residents object to any proposed development project on adjoining lots.

Council infrastructure and traffic committee alternate chairman Tan Yok Cheng said the council would seek feedback from owners of neighbouring pro-perty lots before approving such projects.

“If we find the objections genuine we will hold a hearing and look further into the matter,” Tan said.

He was commenting on The Star’s report that residents in Gurney Drive and Kelawei Road were against the RM650mil project coming up at the site of the former Penang International School (Uplands).

He said residents who were against the project should speak up.

As the project will be in a densely po-pulated area the developer would probably be required to include a tra-ffic study when submitting building plans to the council, Tan said.

Hunza Properties (Penang) Sdn Bhd is planning to build two 43-storey service apartment towers and a 37-storey business tower as well as other lower commercial buildings on the 4.1ha freehold land.

The land, which was leased to Uplands School,was acquired for RM97.86mil from the Christian Bro-thers School in December 2004.

The project has raised concerns that traffic congestion in the area would be-come worse especially along Gurney Drive which is usually very congested on weekends.

Residents also fear that their property would depreciate should traffic jams get worse when the project is completed.

They also question the need for yet another high-rise housing and business project in the area when there are alrea-dy many such buildings in the area.

Affected by the project would be con-do residents or owners of Regency, Gur-ney Park, Arcadia and Desa Mas.

Taken from : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/7/6/north/14755803&sec=north

Ready to meet residents

SEEKING MEETING:Lee(second right)having a discussion with(from left)Prof Amir Fawzi,Gladys,Chan and Dr Leong outside Abu Bakar's office.

PENANG: The Penang Municipal Council is willing to hold closed door meetings with the Tanjong Bunga Residents Association on en-vironmental issues arising from the rapid development in Tanjung Bunga.

Association treasurer Lee Laine said she was happy that the council was opening its doors to allow residents to give their feedback.
“We asked for a public dialogue but council president Datuk Abu Bakar Hassan suggested that a clo-sed door meeting was more appropriate.
“If there is an open door dialogue, he fears there would be too many issues and we cannot focus on any particular issue,” she told newsmen after meeting Abu Bakar at his office in Komtar here yesterday.

Among the committee members present were Datuk Dr Leong Yueh Kwong, Assoc Prof Dr Amir Fawzi Bahaudin, Chan Kok Fook and Gla-dys Lee.

At the meeting, the association presented a petition on specific ac-tion that could be taken by the council in the next one year. The association urged the council to extend the neighbourhood hearings prior to the approval of high-rise developments to a wider neighbourhood. Lee said the area of inclusion should be proportionate to the height of the proposed development as more residents would be affected if the building was higher.

She said the council should consider the views of area residents and the association when formulating local plans and evalua- ting development projects in the area.

“Development should be based on the principle of planning with the environment that would cause minimal destruction to the natu- ral topography and geology,” she said.
The petition contains 279 signatures mostly collected during a public forum organised by the association in Tanjung Bunga on July 2.

Lee said the association, registe-red last Aug 30, had embarked on a membership drive. Those interested can call her at 012-5811123 or email tanjongbunga@yahoo.com.

Taken from : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/8/2/north/15019492&sec=north

Speed up homes for victims

CHIEF Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon has ordered that construction work on a block of apartments for tsunami victims in Tanjung Bugah, Pe-nang, be expedited.

He said he was aware that the project was behind schedule, adding that he had contacted State Housing, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Syed Amerrudin Syed Ahmad to look into the matter.

“I am aware of the delay in the completion of this project and I have spoken to Syed Amerrudin personally.

“He will look into the matter and do the necessary,” he told reporters after briefing Taiwan small and medium enterprise (SME) delegates at Evergreen Laurel Hotel in Penang yesterday.
A few days earlier, the Au-ditor-General’s findings show-ed that work to build and repair houses for tsunami victims in Kedah and Penang were shoddy.

Tsunami victims staying in temporary houses in Jalan Batu Ferringhi were fed up with the delay. Some of them have also complained that the size of the houses was smaller than what was promised.

On another matter, Dr Koh said the Penang Municipal Council was keeping a close watch on the new housing project planned on the hillslope near Solok Tan Jit Seng in Tanjung Bungah.
Several days earlier, some 40 people from the seven bungalows nearby heard that the site had been earmarked for 25 units of three-storey terrace houses.

Trees would also be cut down to make way for the project.
“I have asked the council to monitor the project. The residents’ safety should re-main the utmost priority,” said Dr Koh.

Taken from : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/9/5/north/15335015&sec=north

Forum: Allow access to plans

Penang : The public should be given access to proposals for all major development projects within three months of the submission of plans to the local authority.

This was among the resolutions adopted by participants of a forum held here yesterday to discuss greater transparency in city planning with focus on current and future development at Gurney Drive and Tanjung Bungah.

Another resolution called for public hearings on all applications to convert the use of large parcels of land originally zoned as institutional, educational or recreational.

Organised by the Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) and the Tanjung Bungah Residents Association (TBRA), the forum at the Caring Society Complex was attended by about 40 people, including five Penang municipal councillors.

Among the hot topics discussed was the proposed high-rise development on the former International School of Penang (Uplands) in Gurney Drive and the many high-rise buildings sprouting up on hills and shorelines of Tanjung Bungah.

The participants said the building of two 43-storey service apartment towers and a 37-storey business tower as well as other lower commercial buildings on the 4.1ha former Uplands School would affect residents along the entire Gurney Drive and Kelawei Road. There were also complaints from the participants that the public was not notified of major development projects in their areas.

PHT president Dr Choong Sim Poey said the resolutions would be submitted to the state government, adding that PHT would request for a dialogue with the state government and the council on the matter.

Municipal councillor Teh Leong Meng said Penang was the only state to invite land-owners within a 20m radius from the development site to a public hearing for feedback before building plans were approved. “Under the Town and Country Planning Act 1976, only neighbouring landowners are required to be informed. “If a road separates the development site from another building, only the road owner needs to be informed,” Teh said.

He said the council had no right to stop profit-orientated developers from submitting planning proposals that were within density requirements.

Taken from : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/8/28/north/15261102&sec=north

Robbers strike at students' home

Click Image to Enlarge

GEORGE TOWN: Always lock your doors. Eleven Tunku Abdul Rahman College students learned this the hard way when they were robbed of RM32,000 in handphones, valuables, electrical equipment and cash early yesterday.One of them lost his car to the five robbers.Two students were also injured after being assaulted by the robbers, one armed with a parang and another a steel chain.According to a student, the robbers all wearing helmets, walked up the entrance to their Solok Lembah Permai Tiga house in Tanjung Bungah shortly after midnight.

For more reading, please refer to :
http://www.kwongwah.com.my/kwyp_news/news_show.asp?n=63604&rlt=1&cls=102&txt=2006/10/19/bw20061019_63604

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Friday/National/20061020080356/Article/local1_html

Hill Slope Developments

On 2nd Sept 2006, a street party organized by Tanjung Bunga Residents' Association, residents of Solok Tan Jit Seng and residents of Pearl Hill, to voice out on the various hill slope projects in Tanjung Bunga area.

The most recent pre-application hill slope projects consisting of 25 units of 3 Storey Townhouses will be located below Pearl Hill slope. During the MPPP hearing on the above projects and we were shocked to hear the respond reply from Executive Chairman of Dynamic Home Pro Sdn Bhd, "if we were to die during the construction of the Hill Slope Projects, it is the Act of God" . From the statement he said, we can strongly believe, he and the company is purely profit orientate and very irresponsible in nature.

Photo and write-up, courtesy of Peter & Gladys at http://petergladys.blogspot.com/

TBRA Newsletter - 24-8-2006

Our last update told you about the presentation of 280 signatures to the MPPP and the Tanjong Bunga Assemblyman. This newsletter will tell you more about what has happened since but first: Know there will be a Forum on 27 Aug. This Sunday morning! Details under 3 below. Meeting with ADUN and MPPP President A small number of us met the President of MPPP at his office in KOMTAR to present him with the memorandum drafted by the TBRA. He would raise all the issues in it with his staff and get back to us. He agreed to a meeting with the TBRA after that. The office of Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon replied agreeing to a dialogue at a date to be determined. Since then two more Committee meetings were held and a number of decisions taken: 1. Reply to Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon (see attached) Both MPPP and TB Assemblyman have agreed to meet with our Association but no dates have been set. It gives us time to get better organised and prepare. The reply to Dr Koh Tsu Koon explains that TBRA wants to discuss a number of issues and gives the example of the “sore thumb”. This is one project that was also specifically mentioned in the Memorandum (attached – 4 pages). TBRA would like to see this illegal reclamation restored to its 2005 state and turned into a public park so as to return some beach area to the residents. 2. Establishment of Tanjong Bunga Working Groups (please sign up) At a committee meeting, we decided to make greater use of the expertise available in TBRA as some of the people who attended the first Forum indicated their willingness to help on various issues. We will be compiling a directory of expertise of people who are willing to volunteer some time and share their experience on issues related to Tanjong Bunga. Please put your name and the area of expertise where you can contribute : · Planning · Education · Engineering · Architecture · Landscape · Photography · Nature · Law · Administration · Housing development · Environment · Social work · Computers and web sites · Recycling, energy and water conservation, · Youth and senior citizens, · Health & security, · Public transport, · Recreation. You will not need to sit on the Committee, nor attend long and boring meetings – just meet in informal advisory groups that can lead the Committee to ask the right questions, your questions, about specific projects. Issues of some urgency. A. Technical Working Group on Penang Draft Structure Plan The draft of the Penang Structure Plan will be exhibited soon. There are various issues which will affect us. We need to have a working group to read the report and attend the public exhibition and the public hearing so that unwanted development can be opposed at this stage. (please see earlier TBRA response to the survey Report: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bungarians) B. Technical Group on Tanjong Bunga Local Plan We learned that this is in its final stages. This would have greater consequences for us. When this ready for public comment, we would need people to scrutinize the Local Plan, and possibly present a different vision of what we want TB to be. C . Tanjong Bunga Development Monitoring Group There are a number of developments proposed along hill slopes. One is the proposed development 25 units of semi-D at Solok Tan Jit Seng just below the rows of townhouses built on concrete stilts on Pearl Hill. This is very steep land and the residents above fear that landslides may occur if construction is allowed there. See date for site visit below. There are also proposed developments in other areas. We would need people to help monitor such proposals and developments. We therefore propose to form a monitoring group and bring attention to inappropriate developments Hill cutting was reported as a “hot” issue now with lots of newspaper articles about evidence and denials, etc. It also concerns TBRA with the Lemba Permai (Hunza) projects and the other dangerous eyesore near Taman Chee Seng. Members in those areas, please come forward to give proposals! What angle should TBRA tackle? · Zoning in TB has been haphazard. Officially we are a “tourism zone”, but most of our town is residential. How can we keep it residential? · Buildings have been approved in an equally haphazard way, often before the necessary infrastructure is planned (roads, water, electricity). · Gazetted hill land is being eyed by developers. · Improving community facilities in TB. We need to also put forward our suggestions on how to improve community facilities like market, library, hawker centres, bus station, open space, etc. 3. TBRA support for Gurney Drive Public Forum: Sunday, 27 Aug, 9am to 1pm We were asked to support the Public Forum by another civil society group, the Penang Heritage Trust. We have decided to do so as the proposed developments in Gurney Drive and Kelawei Road will affect TB in terms of traffic flow, etc. Please come and contribute ! Gurney Drive/Tanjong Bunga Public Forum: 27 Aug. 9am to 1pm at the Caring Society Complex (diagonally across from the Penang Sports Club). The title of the Forum is “Greater Transparency in City Planning”. It will focus on the planned development of the former Uplands school area. Briefings will be given on the plans to build three high rise towers, how they will dwarf the heritage buildings in the area and the repercussions for traffic. Membership and outreach A volunteer has started to do an electronic list of our current membership (thanks to her, many more of you will be receiving this newsletter). Although email is the easiest way to reach out, we do also want to stay in touch with members who do not have or use email – where we have street addresses, we shall try to mail copies. Any other volunteers to help with this, please? Joining forces Several other residents committees have approached TBRA to explore ways to work together. (For example, 3 Committee members had a meeting with the Perbadanan Mt Evergreen) Condo Committees may want to join as supporting members, a loose way to keep in touch so that TBRA also knows that there are local RA’s at work in certain areas. Malaysia Second Homers may also want to contribute by giving their views. Latest: Site visit There will be a “site visit” on Saturday 2 Sept, 10 am at Solok Tan Jit Sing. (turn in at the Tanjung Bungah School, and go till the end of the road. The proposed development is on the slope on the left.) Come and support the residents. Your street may be next for inappropriate and unwanted development." Preparations for this will take place on Saturday, 26 Aug. 4pm at the Mt Evergreen Townhouse (Management Office, 80 Puncak Bukit Mutiara Satu.) All are welcome !

Public Forum, 2nd July 2006

TBRA held a successful Public Forum on 2 July 2006 which resulted in a petition signed by 280 citizens concerned with development problems in their neighborhood and along the North Coast of Penang.

The signatures and a memorandum were delivered to Yang di Pertua of MPPP and Assemblyman Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon. The memorandum asks for:

1. A moratorium on development projects on the north coast until traffic and infrastructure plans have been implemented.

2. Notification of development projects to all residents who will be affected and not only to immediate neighbors.

3. EIA for all development in ecologically sensitive areas and mandatory public participation on the EIA.

4. No hill land to be degazetted and converted to development land.

5. Increased participation of civil society groups and resident associations in the formulation of the local plan."