GEORGE TOWN: The 130-million-year-old forest in Penang Hill will remain almost intact under the RM245mil cable car project there, with only about 50 trees affected.
Even those 50 will be relocated, not felled, said Datuk Cheok Lay Leng.
“About 50 trees will be relocated out of the more than 7.7 million trees on the hill. They are neither huge nor heritage trees. We plan to transport smaller plants wherever possible and replant them at suitable locations,” said the Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) general manager.
He gave his assurance that there will not be massive deforestation, with only a few species like the African tulip (Spathodea campanulata), royal palm and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) affected.
All these trees are primarily located at the bottom station area.
“We actually got input and approval from Forestry Department officers for the removal of the trees to make way for the pylons, Our goal is to ensure environmental sustainability,” he said.
The 2.7km cable car line will have 50 eight-seater carriages and is expected to be able to ferry 1,000 passengers per hour to the top of the hill at a speed of 6m per second.
The project has been awarded to local rail company Hartasuma Sdn Bhd, which will have a 30-year concession period.
ALSO READ: Cable cars to lift Penang tourism
The lower station will be near the Penang Botanic Gardens, with 15 towers along the line. The journey from the lower to the 833m-high hill station will take less than 10 minutes.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and planning permission have been obtained and PHC, the project coordinator, is now awaiting approval for its building and earthworks plans before starting work.
Cheok said four main buildings – the multi-storey carpark and garden station (lower station), turn station (near the viaduct midway up the hill) and hill station (upper station) – would be built simultaneously.
“The groundbreaking ceremony is expected in May, with the entire construction taking 18 to 24 months, depending on weather conditions.”
Cheok said only five towers would be built in the forest, with the remaining 10 built close to the upper and lower stations.
He said the hand-dug caisson method would be used for the construction of foundations, with only limited on-site clearing required.
ALSO READ: Penang Hill cable car project gets okay
“The area to be cleared would only be for the base of the pylon – the smallest area being 3m x 3m while the largest area is about 7m x 7m, depending on the height of the pylons which range between 7m and 56m.
“No heavy machinery will be required on site and construction materials will be delivered via a jeep track, and a winch will be installed above the existing cascade drains to transport the materials to the construction site.
“No new paths or roads will be built for this project,” he said.
Penang Hill and its surrounding area are recognised as Unesco biosphere reserves and Cheok said a cable car is one of the most environmentally friendly transport systems in the world.
He said other cable car services within the Unesco biosphere reserves sites include those in Santana Madeira, Portugal and Mount Sorak, Seoraksan, South Korea.
“The Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve has a core area, buffer zone and transition area.
ALSO READ: Proposed cable car project in Penang Hill under evaluation, says Zairil
“The cable car system will be built only in the transition area, where economic activities are allowed.”
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president Meenakshi Raman reminded the state government on the need to ensure environmental and biodiversity sustainability, management and conservation of Penang Hill, given its recognition as a biosphere reserve.
“Penang Hill and Penang Botanic Gardens are very sensitive environmental ecosystems. We are worried that the cable car project will gravely impair these sensitive areas.
“We are very disappointed that the EIA was not published for public viewing and participation,” she said.
