Noorazam chairing the MBJB full council meeting.
Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) will set up a RM2.6mil ecological centre in the city with the support of collaborators.
Mayor Datuk Noorazam Osman said the pilot project would kick off next year in collaboration with Kyoto City, Kyoto Environmental Activities Association, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).
“The ecological centre will enable children to learn about recycling, eco-recycling and the importance of protecting the environment.
“This is a start in changing mindsets among our future generations,” he said after chairing the city council’s full board meeting.
Noorazam said MBJB was currently looking at a few options for sites to develop the ecological centre.
“For starters, we will set it up at Perpustakaan Sultan Ismail as a pilot project.
“We have also sent our officers for training with regards to the project.
“There is a strong bond between MBJB and the community in Japan and we are honoured that Kyoto City has chosen Johor Baru as the place for them to start and share their knowledge on green energy initiatives.
“This project will not only benefit MBJB but the Greater Johor Baru Agenda as well,” he said, adding that it was also in line with the Iskandar Malaysia Low-Carbon Society 2030 blueprint which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the city by 70%.
On another matter, Noorazam said the city council had completed a proposal on short, middle- and long-term solutions to reduce the risk of flash floods in the city, which would be submitted to the Environment and Water Ministry.
He said one of the long-term measures proposed was the planting of some 10,000 trees a year.
“We are also in the midst of building a RM3mil bicycle lane to make the city more liveable,” he said.
He added that the lane would stretch along the Central Business District, Jalan Kolam Ayer, Jalan Tasek Utara and Jalan Yahya Awal before making the loop back into the city and would be completed before year end.
The Iskandar Malaysia Low-Carbon Society 2030 involves five local authorities, namely MBJB, Pasir Gudang City Council, Iskandar Puteri City Council, Kulai Municipal Council and Pontian Municipal Council.
Noorazam said the city council had implemented 172 low-carbon programmes out of the 247 planned under the blueprint.
“We have 22 programmes that are ongoing and the remaining 53 will be carried out soon,” he said.
They include the integrated public transport programme through Bas Muafakat Johor and electric shuttle buses in the city centre.
