If the State Exco has its way, Tanjong Bunga will be wiped off the map, literally! The Penang Structure Plan has clearly designated Tanjong Bunga - Telok Bahang as the Secondary development corridor (Spatial Development Policy No.5 - DSU5 L1) while the George Town - Tanjung Tokong Corridor is designated as the Primary Development Corridor. This is fine and it is just what Tanjong Bunga residents are asking for. But wait! In the illustration map in the Structure Plan (Fig. 4.2 Penang State Development Corridors) the name Tanjong Bunga does not appear in the area coloured green which denotes Secondary Development Corridor. The State Town and Country Planning Department (JPBD) has this interpretation that the Secondary Development Corridor starts from Mar Vista Resort. However according to the Town limit gazette notification P.U. No. 50 of 30-6-66, the boundary of Tanjong Bunga starts from where Tanjong Bunga Hotel is located.
It is indeed curious that in such an important diagram, a nondescript development named Mar Vista Resort is prominently labelled instead of Tanjong Bunga. Even more curious is that Tanjong Tokong is labelled in the location where Tanjong Bunga should be.
Well, it appears that the State Exco has swallowed this interpetation of JPBD hook, line and sinker! God help us what have we done on March 8?
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
North Coast residents want balanced development
A scenic bridge in Croatia, an emerging holiday destination in the Adriatic Sea for Europeans. Here the beautiful and pristine sea and natural environment is retained.
First of all, we express out full support to the government in practising the principles of competency, accountability and transparency.
We are well aware of the many issues that the new government has to deal with since its formation but we would like to focus on the physical or spatial planning aspects as they impact most on every one in Penang.
We fully acknowledge the need for the government to create a ‘business-friendly’ environment in order to spur economic development in Penang. However this must be clearly translated into practical actions of improving the delivery system, reducing the cost of doing business, clean and efficient public service, eliminating red-tape, ‘no-wrong door’ policy, quick and accurate access to information, and so on.
Creating such conducive environments for existing and potential investors should not be confused as a ‘pro-business-at-the-expense-of’ mentality. We have seen how demands by certain segments of the business sector have influenced the ‘pro-business’ government in the past at the expense of everybody else and Penang’s unique environment.
Put in another way, we urge the State government to adopt a sustainable development approach that considers the need to balance development with the conservation of our natural resources, which precious little has been diminishing at an alarming pace, and to improve the quality of life in Penang.
There are many important employment generating economic sectors like tourism, education, health, services, R&D which have not been given the required attention in the State’s Structure Plan, but instead there has been an over-emphasis on real estate development which like a beaver, is gnawing away Penang’s precious hill slopes, forests beaches and valuable agriculture land.
We are therefore submitting that an expeditious review of the State Structure Plan policies is urgently needed as everything else (investment promotions, local plans) will emanate from it.
In the mean time, we are not suggesting that planning applications or development should be stopped but rather to sieve those that have more serious environmental, traffic and social impact so that they can be evaluated against a local plan that has been drafted with public consultation respecting the spirit of the Town and Country Planning Act.
We fully acknowledge the need for the government to create a ‘business-friendly’ environment in order to spur economic development in Penang. However this must be clearly translated into practical actions of improving the delivery system, reducing the cost of doing business, clean and efficient public service, eliminating red-tape, ‘no-wrong door’ policy, quick and accurate access to information, and so on.
Creating such conducive environments for existing and potential investors should not be confused as a ‘pro-business-at-the-expense-of’ mentality. We have seen how demands by certain segments of the business sector have influenced the ‘pro-business’ government in the past at the expense of everybody else and Penang’s unique environment.
Put in another way, we urge the State government to adopt a sustainable development approach that considers the need to balance development with the conservation of our natural resources, which precious little has been diminishing at an alarming pace, and to improve the quality of life in Penang.
There are many important employment generating economic sectors like tourism, education, health, services, R&D which have not been given the required attention in the State’s Structure Plan, but instead there has been an over-emphasis on real estate development which like a beaver, is gnawing away Penang’s precious hill slopes, forests beaches and valuable agriculture land.
We are therefore submitting that an expeditious review of the State Structure Plan policies is urgently needed as everything else (investment promotions, local plans) will emanate from it.
In the mean time, we are not suggesting that planning applications or development should be stopped but rather to sieve those that have more serious environmental, traffic and social impact so that they can be evaluated against a local plan that has been drafted with public consultation respecting the spirit of the Town and Country Planning Act.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Participants submit recommendations to Penang State Government
The recent workshop on Sustainable Development of Penang's North Coast was attended by over 70 concerned individuals representing at least 6 local organisations, including the Tanjong Bunga Residents’ Association. The workshop was initiated by YB Teh Yee Cheu, ADUN for Tanjung Bungah. The participants drafted a number of recommendations which being applicable to other geographical areas in the state was submitted to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on Friday, 9th May 2008 at his office.
The workshop was sponsored by Paradise Sandy Beach Resort and a private company based in Tanjong Bunga.
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