Penang Sentral

Thousands of commuters are expected to benefit when the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) is incorporated into the new Penang Sentral Transport Hub Terminal next year.

 

Northern Corridor Economic Region special adviser to the Prime Minister, Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman said the plan to set up the UTC at the terminal was to benefit the commuters in the area.

“Once the 10-storey terminal is completed, there will be a high volume of commuters using the train, ferry, bus and taxi services.

“With the UTC in the building, they can access government services under one roof.

“Since the terminal is also in Butterworth town, it would also provide good access for residents there,” he said yesterday.

Last year, the 10 UTCs in the country attracted some 11.5 million Malaysians. The 11th UTC was opened earlier this month in Sungai Petani, Kedah.

Under the National Blue Ocean Strategy initiative, the UTC houses commercial outlets and various state and federal government agencies.

Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) executive vice-president Datuk Ishak Mohamed, who was also present to accompany Zainal in the site tour, said work on the project was going smoothly.

“So far, the project is about 25% complete and everything is on track.

“We expect it to be completed on schedule by early next year,” he said.

Penang Sentral Sdn Bhd, which was specially established to manage and administer the Penang Sentral project, is a wholly owned subsidiary of MRCB.

Source: The Star

Gurney Wharf

 

Spanning close to 60 acres, a new seafront public park is planned for the popular Gurney Drive foreshore with water-fronting public recreation area called Gurney Wharf. This project is the brainchild of the Penang State Government.

Gurney Wharf will be created on land to be reclaimed by Tanjung Pinang Development Sdn Bhd (TPD), a subsidiary of premier lifestyle property developer Eastern & Oriental Berhad (E&O).

A public exhibition themed “My Gurney Wharf” was held at a popular retail mall here for the proposed concept masterplan through a series of curated images, photographs and illustrations.

“Acknowledging the importance of Gurney Drive and the emotional attachment it brings forth in the hearts and minds of Penangites, the State is proud to propose a masterplan concept to create a new iconic waterfront destination for Penang, for the benefit of the people of Penang, and one that Penangites would be proud to call their own,” said Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang.

E&O took the initiative to engage award-winning international consultants at its own cost to prepare the proposed masterplan concept. The consultants—GDP Architects for the overall masterplan, Grant Associates for landscaping and Jerde for retail F&B—all highly acclaimed designers and consultants with an impressive portfolio that includes the Aga Khan-award winning Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (GDP), Gardens by the Bay in Singapore (Grant) and Roppongi Hills, Japan (Jerde).

“Drawing inspiration from some of the world’s best public spaces we aspire to create a spacious, multi-functional public park-in-the-city that is international in standard yet one hundred per cent Penang in spirit.”

The proposed Gurney Wharf concept masterplan encompasses four distinct character areas: Seaside Retail F&B, Water Gardens, Beach and Coastal Grove.

The Seaside Retail F&B celebrates Penang’s vibrant seafront with a waterfronting public promenade, seafront dining facilities including the island’s famed hawker fare and a pier walk.

The Water Gardens area will be defined by lush gardens, ponds and wetlands with its most distinctive feature being landscaped water gardens with innovative storm water filtration systems. Modelled after Singapore’s success with this at Gardens on the Bay, this is a pioneering system in Malaysia which is aesthetically outstanding as it is functional.

At the Beach precinct, Penangites would gain greater access to the waterfront area that includes a public beach as well as a public promenade. Nearly 400 meters of sandy beach will be specially created.

Within the Coastal Grove, a skate park for teens and youth, not far from the casuarinas lining the present Gurney Drive. The existing casuarinas are a trademark of Gurney Drive and will be mindfully preserved.

Lim Guan Eng rounded up by saying “In enabling easy access to the waterfront for everybody, the proposed concept masterplan incorporates two pedestrian retail underpasses with direct access from Pulau Tikus. Conveniences such as underpass lifts and escalators, separate pedestrian walkways and cycling paths as well as ramps for wheelchairs and strollers have also be included in the design. There will also be close to 1500 car park bays above and below ground level.

In compliance with regulatory requirements to ensure public safety, fencing would have to be built along the perimeter of the development site prior to commencement of works. Fencing works is anticipated to start in end-February.”