PENANGITES and visitors can now look forward to visiting the long-awaited reinstated moat at Fort Cornwallis, scheduled for full completion in July next year.
The milestone is a testament to the ongoing efforts to rejuvenate Fort Cornwallis and its surrounding assets, enhancing the site’s public appeal.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who visited the progress of the south moat of Fort Cornwallis in conjunction with the George Town World Heritage celebrations, said it is now undergoing testing and allowing the landscape to mature.
“The public is now restricted from entering, but the south moat can be viewed from the clock tower through a newly installed wire mesh fence. The works are still in progress.
“The reinstatement of the southern and western moats are scheduled to be completed by July next year, ” he told reporters after attending the pre-launch ceremony of the south moat.
The Fort Cornwallis initiative is led by the George Town Conservation and Development Corporation (GTCDC), a partnership between the Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI) and Think City, with Aga Khan Trust for Culture acting as the technical adviser.
The project follows the recommendation of the George Town World Heritage Site Special Area Plan and the Fort Cornwallis Conservation Management Plan.
Chow said the works for the west moat are now in progress. A food court, which is part of the Fort Cornwallis project, has been temporarily relocated.
“Once the west moat is completed, a new food court will be built alongside the Fort Cornwallis moat reinstatement next year,” he said, adding the overall project cost is about RM20 million.
Chow also lauded the cooperation between the relevant agencies in ensuring the project is carried out smoothly.
Meanwhile, Think City managing director Hamdan Abdul Majeed said his organisation has played a crucial role in this project.
“Over the past 15 years, we have supported the state’s transformation into a model of cultural preservation and urban revitalisation.
“The restoration of the moats combines Think City’s expertise in heritage rejuvenation,” he said.
Tanjong MP Lim Hui Ying, delighted with the progress of the overall project, expressed hopes to witness its completion.
Also present during the ceremony were former Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, state Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye, state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai, Seri Delima assemblyman Connie Tan, Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Wong Yuee Harng, Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng, Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk A. Rajendran, CMI general manager Datin S. Bharathi, and George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Siew Chia En
Video by Muhammad Amir Irsyad Omar