Gamuda's Penang Transport Master Plan factored into latest state structure plan

GEORGE TOWN (Dec 8): The Gamuda Bhd-led Penang Transport Master Plan has been factored into the Penang Structure Plan 2020-2030 (PSP2030) to facilitate the issuing of guidelines involving transport-oriented development (TOD), an official said today.

Penang Town and Country Planning Department director Datuk Mohd Anuar Maidin said transport hubs along the light-rail transit (LRT) line highlighted in the RM46 billion plan would be included as primary development areas in the PSP2030.

The masterplan, which has been tasked to project delivery partner SRS Consortium, is led by Gamuda and joined by Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd and Loh Phoy Yen Sdn Bhd.

“We will review the TODs and zones that can be developed because they have changed from PSP2020. There were no (LRT) rail lines then. However, the incentives for detailed planning for TODs would be identified in the Penang Island Local Plan which has yet to be completed.

“Our PSP2030 is developed to ensure it does not curb development but control it instead,” said Mohd Anuar during a question-and-answer session after presenting the five-year review findings in the PSP 2020 Review Report.

PSP 2020 was gazetted in 2007. According to the law, state structure plans, which have a 10-year tenure, should be reviewed every five years, Anuar said.

He added that the the proposed reclamation off the south of Penang island to create three man-made islands would be included in PSP 2030 while the state finalises its land-use plan.

On a different note, Mohd Anuar said the impact on development on the island was evident due to the absence of a local plan, which details out planning for each area, and conflict between the Penang Island City Council (MBPP)’s 1996 planning policy, that was outdated, and the PSP.

“When it comes to development on Penang island, there is conflict in approval for areas highlighted under PSP 2020 and MBPP’s 1996 policy because the plans were drawn up in different eras. A local plan would have been able to solve the problem but there is none yet.

"In any case, the State Planning Committee is currently handling such conflicting matters,” he  said.

Mohd Anuar also said the state has established a special criteria for residential development, such as low-cost and affordable houses costing less that RM300,000, where increase in density was allowed to encourage such projects for the benefit of people.

“However, developers would take advantage of it and it would be difficult to control density,” he added. — theedgemarkets.com