THE Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) is looking to conserve the heritage bungalows for unique boutique accommodation.
Its general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng emphasised the significant value of these accommodations to support ecotourism.
“We do not intend to build a large-scale hotel as frequently raised by certain quarters.
“In fact, this unique boutique accommodation can be utilised by researchers to carry out studies at the grounds of Penang Hill.
“We will take into careful consideration the methods used to restore and repurpose the heritage bungalows appropriately.
“The Hillside Retreat is our first conservation project while the Penang Hill Gallery@Edgecliff is our second conservation project.
“The Penang Hill Gallery@Edgecliff will become a gallery and education centre, which will be announced to the public in the future,” he said in an interview with Buletin Mutiara.
Cheok said a detailed study would be carried out before the project commences.
“We will ensure the execution of development projects comply with the guidelines in the proposed Penang Hill Special Area Plan,” he said.
On a survey conducted for the proposed Penang Hill cable car project, Cheok reiterated that 95% of the respondents have supported the implementation of the project.
“It is meant to be an alternative route to bring visitors to and from the Penang Hill. This will reduce the dependency and strain on our current funicular services, which has limited load capacity, especially during peak period.
“The cable car system will also help to balance traffic congestion in and around the current funicular station areas.
“Many renowned national parks, nature reserves and even Unesco World Heritage sites and biosphere reserves around the world have cable car system.”
Asked about the future plans for the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve, Cheok said the first step would be to establish the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve Office (PHBRO).
“We have initiated the hiring process to look for suitable candidates to manage the office.
“With the establishment of the office, we will continue with the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve Action Plan, which will lay down the foundation on the guidelines and policies.
“This is targeted to be completed 12 months from the inscription,” he said.
Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve encompasses three major ecosystems, namely the terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems.
It spans over an area of 12,481 hectares, covering Penang Hill, Penang National Park, Penang Botanic Gardens, Teluk Bahang Dam, Ayer Itam Dam, six permanent forest reserves which are Bukit Kerajaan Forest Reserve, Teluk Bahang Forest Reserve, Laksamana Forest Reserve, Penara Hill Forest Reserve, Highlands Forest Reserve and Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve as well as several water catchment areas on Penang island.
PHBR is the state’s second accolade from Unesco after George Town was accorded the Unesco World Heritage Site status in 2008.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud