GEORGE TOWN: The people of Penang should question if there is any justification for the proposed 6.5km Gurney Drive-Bagan Ajam undersea tunnel project, said an Australian town planner.
“Why do you need it? What is the implication and who is it going to affect?” asked Dr Peter R. Jensen, who arrived here yesterday to speak at a forum organised by the Penang Citizens Awareness Chant Group (Chant) tomorrow.
The Johor-born Dr Jensen, 72, who is also managing director ofHyparcons Pty Ltd which is a professional consultancy firm in Australia, will focus on issues concerning re-development and heritage at the forum. “I will also be studying the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP),” he told reporters.
The forum themed “Is the undersea tunnel environmentally sustainable and Gurney Drive enclave livable?” will be held at 8pm at E&O Hotel here.
Hyparcons provides services in disputes over development, land use planning, site appraisal and opportunities, land use controls and analysis, among others.
Dr Jensen said he only came to know of the proposed Penang undersea tunnel about 10 days ago, adding that “I am catching up with the progress of Penang since my last visit 40 years ago.”
Currently involved in urban designing and architecture in Australia, Dr Jensen has just finished writing a book which is scheduled to be published in June.
The undersea tunnel is one of the four infrastructure projects announced by the state government.
The RM6.3bil mega package consists of the 6.5km Gurney Drive-Bagan Ajam undersea tunnel, the 4.2km Gurney Drive-Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Bypass, the 4.6km Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu-BandarBaru Air Itam Bypass and a 12km Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang paired road. - The Star
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