GEORGE TOWN: Stop this mammoth high-rise project in our backyard, a group of residents chanted outside their homes in Taman Sierra 81 in Bukit Sungai Ara here yesterday.
This was after residents found out that a developer had sent in plans to the local authorities to build a 34-storey highrise with 750 units on a hill next to their homes.
The residents, armed with placards, held a protest demanding the state government cease granting any development on the hill, which was largely a green lung.
Residents’ spokesman Loh Kan Swee said according to the architect’s plans, the project would be linked to their neighbourhood’s two access roads.
“Once these 750 units are completed, an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 residents will stay here and use this access road.
“Our narrow roads are only 30 feet wide. One can only imagine what might happen if this project gets the nod. I think we could barely make it out then,” he told reporters.
According to an architect’s plan sighted, the development will be built on hill land measuring 1.3ha on a gradient below 76m.
It was also learnt that the developer owns other parts of the hill land, measuring 11 acres in total. An insider told the residents that the project was divided into three phases, which will encompass the entire Bukit Sungai Ara in later years.
The group also cited two other concerns; lack of proper drainage which leads to frequent mud floods and loss of an important green lung in the area.
“The developer had announced that they would close a hill road which is used by trekkers and cyclists to the famous Sungai Ara ‘carpet’ trail.
“We hope the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) will not approve the project,” he said.
Loh also highlighted that during heavy downpour, some 100 houses in the neighbourhood experience mud floods.
He said this phenomenon began when a condominium project started at the back of the hill in 2012.
"We would also like to request for a Traffic Impact Assessment on the two access roads in our area, before council gives the developer any consideration," Loh said.
Meanwhile, another resident, Gooi Khai Soon claimed the MBPP had served the objection notices ‘unconventionally’ by dropping them directly into their mailboxes.
He said the 21-day notice was dropped late, giving them little time to object to the project.
“Two houses have been served with the notice. They are supposed to send it to us via registered mail.
“Instead, the notice was dropped in our mailboxes in the last of the three weeks. They did not follow SOP. The hearing of our objection was on Feb 23,” Gooi said.
He claimed that the MBPP will apparently reach a decision on the project in two weeks.
A resident who wanted to remain anonymous said attempts to meet MBPP and state executive councillors on the matter proved futile.
“We have contacted our assemblyman, MBPP and the like. Neither responded to our queries,” said the housewife.
Meanwhile, in a rare show of anger, Consumers’ Association of Penang president S.M. Mohamed Idris likened the spate of development of hill land to fast spreading ‘cholera’ or ‘cancer’.
Idris, who was present at the protest, said a moratorium on all development should be set, until a proper local plan is gazetted.
“God help us, what sort of development, bureaucrats and politicians do we have? There is clearly no thinking and no planning.
“What is the competency that the state government is talking about?
“They keep blaming the previous government for the problems, but now the present government seems to condoned such activities,” he said.
Idris said Penangites must start questioning the development policies by the state immediately.
“People must start asking. I feel there should be an inquiry on the state government.
“We are paying a great fine for our indifference, because we do not analyse what they say or do,” he said.