The Penang Hill cable car project will start in April this year, said Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng.

He said the groundbreaking ceremony for the project will be held in April.

“We have obtained the necessary approvals, including the EIA and planning permission,” he told reporters after a reopening ceremony of the Penang Hill Station this morning. The EIA refers to the environmental impact assessment.

He said the project is expected to take about 18 months but it will also depend on weather conditions especially when the project is in sensitive hilly areas.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the National Physical Planning Council has also approved the project.

The tender for the project was awarded to local rail industry pioneer, Hartasuma Sdn Bhd, through a public-private partnership (PPP) on design, finance, build, operate and transfer. Hartasuma is expected to invest RM245 million in the project and the project is based on a 30-year concession period.

Earlier, Chow officiated the reopening of the newly upgraded Penang Hill Station.

The RM10.9 million project, which took over three years to complete, now has a new holding area on the first floor and can accommodate 700 visitors, an increase from the previous capacity of 250 people. The project also expanded the existing building floor space from 800 sqm to 1,422 sqm.

Chow, in his speech, said the upgrading works combined the existing century-old building with new upgrades. He also announced that the station will be renamed Penang Hill Station from Penang Hill Upper Station. He said the upgraded and expanded station will be able to cater to the increasing number of visitors to the hill resort.

In January this year, Penang Hill received 94,927 visitors.

“The Penang Hill Station also uses green and sustainable practices such as renewable energy, rainwater harvesting and automatic lighting,” he said.

He said the station will be able to obtain the gold category of the Green Building Index (GBI).Now that the hill station upgrading works is completed, he said they will continue with the upgrading works of the Astaka Bukit Bendera soon.

Source: MalayMail.com

The physical works for Phase One, also known as Priority 1, of the Gurney Bay project, have been completed and are now open to the public as of today.

The Gurney Bay project, valued at RM247.8 million, is divided into two phases: Priority 1 and Priority 2.

Priority 1, covering 27.70 acres, includes various components such as a children’s play area, skate park, south vantage point viewing deck, public toilets, pedestrian promenade, hawker stalls, retail areas, recreation park, hawker kiosks, open car park space, and south water body reclamation area.

In contrast, Priority 2 (74.10 acres) encompasses a hawker centre, retail area, convenience stores, north viewing deck, public toilets, additional hawker kiosks, multi-storey car park, open car park, water garden, surau, water taxis jetty, man-made beach and boardwalk, refuse centre, north water body, and more.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow mentioned that Priority 2’s current progress is at 40%, with an expected completion in mid-2025.

He added that 1,500 trees and 10,000 tree saplings have been planted in Priority 1, and 3,041 trees will be planted in Priority 2.

“Priority 1 has 64 parking lots, and Priority 2 will have 736. We will consider adding more parking lots in Priority 1 once both phases are completed,” Chow said.

During a site visit, Chow expressed his satisfaction with the progress, saying that it was his first visit since the groundbreaking ceremony in 2022.

“I am pleased to witness the development of the Gurney Bay project, an initiative by the Penang government. I hope the people of Penang will embrace this project and enjoy the space with their families,” Chow told Buletin Mutiara during a site visit today.

Present at the site visit were Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak, Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo, state Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee Chairman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye, former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who is also the Air Putih assemblyman, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk A. Rajendran, and Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI) deputy general manager Datin Bharathi Suppiah.

Earlier, Chow, along with Ahmad Fuzi and other dignitaries, participated in a tree-planting activity symbolising the opening of Priority 1 for the Gurney Bay project.

Source: Buletin Mutiara

The Cube, an affordable housing development by Morning Dew Development Sdn. Bhd. at Jelutong. Located on a 2-acre land along Lorong Perak, diagonally opposite Sri Wonder Complex. It is about 10 minutes walking distance to both SJK(C) Sum Sun and SJK(C) Beng Teik. Surrounding highrise residential include 86 Avenue Residences, Sri Wangsa 2, Taman Jelutong Jaya Apartment, and a few others.

This development comprises a 38-storey residential tower, featuring 349 affordable units with 10 levels of multi-storey car parking podium. There will be several units of retail and commercial lots located at level 1-5.

READ MORE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING:

• Eligibility and the requirement of buying affordable housing
• Full list of affordable housing in Penang

Project Name : The Cube
Location : Jelutong
Property Type : Affordable housing
Land Tenure: Freehold
Total Units: 349
Built-up Size: 850 sq.ft. – 1,000 sq.ft.
Indicative Price: RM270,000 onwards
Developer : Morning Dew Development Sdn. Bhd.

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After over two years, Taman Eko Rimba in Bukit Mertajam reopened its gates to the public today.

Nestled near Cheruk To’Kun, the park is known for its lush 37-hectare landscape and the peak that stands 545 metres above sea level, offering a haven for recreational activities and nature lovers.

According to a report by Buletin Mutiara, the reopening comes after extensive slope mitigation works and the construction of an off-road track were completed to enhance visitor safety and park infrastructure.

The park’s diverse flora, including species like Meranti Seraya and Meranti Rambai Daun, beckons hikers and nature enthusiasts to explore its depths and marvel at the ‘giant tree’ – a focal point for memorable photographs.

The park offers a challenging hike to the mountain peak where a telecommunications tower resides.

With a distance of about 3.5 kilometres from the base along the concrete off-road track, it takes an average hiker over an hour to reach ‘station 3’, promising a rewarding adventure for visitors.

Speaking to Buletin Mutiara, Azman Saad, the district forest officer for Seberang Perai Utara/Tengah provided insights into the park’s closure and the crucial upgrade works.

“In 2017, during the flood disaster that hit the state (of Penang), several areas with steep slopes collapsed and posed a danger to visitors, especially mountain hikers here.

“For over two years now, the entire area of Taman Eko Rimba Bukit Mertajam has been completely closed to any recreational activities to allow JKR to carry out the mandatory mitigation work,” he was quoted as saying.

Azman also revealed that an RM8 million investment had gone into the park’s maintenance and preservation, ensuring the safety of steep slopes that had collapsed during the 2017 flood disaster.

The park’s handover ceremony on Jan 18 symbolised the readiness of the eco-park for public enjoyment, with officials from various departments including the Public Works Department and the Penang State Forestry Department present.

With the reopening, the park’s main gate will welcome visitors from 7am, while hikers often begin their ascent from alternative routes as early as 5am.

The influx of visitors is expected to be substantial, especially on weekends and public holidays, highlighting the park’s popularity and the community’s enthusiasm for reconnecting with nature.

However, visitors are advised that parking facilities are limited and to plan accordingly.

Source: NST Online