GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government is set to conduct the groundbreaking ceremony for the much-awaited Gurney Wharf project in the middle of January.
State housing and local council committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the Gurney Wharf project is a state government initiative to provide a green, recreational area in accordance with international standards for the benefit of Penangites.
The project, he said, is in line with the state government’s aspirations of Cleaner, Greener, Healthier, Safer & Smarter Penang and Penang Vision 2030.
The construction of Gurney Wharf, he said, will commence simultaneously but classified as Priority 1 and Priority 2.
“Under Priority 1, it will include the children’s play area, skating park, Anjung Tinjau (viewing deck), south vantage point, public toilets, pedestrian promenade, hawker kiosk, landscape areas and recreational parks (including expressway reserve) and open parking.
“Some of these facilities will start construction by New Year’s Day and will be open to the public by the end of next year.
“While Priority 2 consists of the following components, which includes the provision of more landscape areas and recreational parks, hawker centre, viewing deck, north vantage point, public toilets, additional hawker kiosks, multi-storey car park, open parking venue, preparation of beach and boardwalk areas, water garden, drainage system, storm water channel, construction of water taxi jetty, and partial reclamation of water bodies
“The state government has also asked the project consultant to study the appropriate development proposal to be implemented in the water bodies area,” he said.
The initiative, he said, began after obtaining input from Penangites, and from it was translated into a detailed plan, which was put into action on January 1.
Despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Jagdeep said the implementation of the project must continue as planned as this would benefit the people of Penang.
“We will ensure that the people can enjoy an international standard public park by the end of 2022, and hopefully Covid-19 will not be an obstacle to it,” Jagdeep said. – The Vibes, December 10, 2021
