I’m posting about this because of my blogging on global warming just today, over here. The Penang State Environment Committee chairman blames global warming. It figures to blame something you can’t stop or control and is caused by other countries of the world for the state of Gurney Drive.
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From NST 26 Feb 2007 (note that NST removes articles after about a week):
Gurney Drive ‘now ugly and smelly’
26 Feb 2007
GEORGE TOWN: It used to attract scores of people who came for their daily morning walks and to enjoy the relaxing sound of waves hitting the beach.
But a visit to Gurney Drive these days would leave you wondering whether you are indeed visiting the famous promenade.The beach has almost disappeared. Instead of seeing waves, visitors are greeted by the sight of an ugly mudflat, with smelly sludge, garbage, tree trunks and other waste exposed for much of the day until the tide comes up.
Environmentalists and residents are infuriated.
They say Gurney Drive is now paying the price of the land reclamation for a massive upscale housing project at Tanjung Tokong.
The reclamation has been blamed for causing a change in the tidal pattern which has resulted in the prolonged low tide at Gurney Drive.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia secretary Meenakshi Raman said the problem will only get worse as new development projects are approved in the area.
“I am saddened by the lack of environmental impact assessments, studying how the projects are going to affect the coastline.
“If nothing is done, the whole coastal area at Gurney Drive will soon disappear.”
The authorities should come up with a rehabilitation plan to revive the appearance of the Gurney Drive beach front, Meenakshi said.
Gurney Drive resident Sally Wong, 30, said the scenery at Gurney Drive has become awful and is getting worse because of the continued low tide there.
“It used to be a pleasure to walk in the area. Now, I have to endure the unbearable stench from the mud and look at all kinds of rubbish washed up on the beach front.”
The state government has rubbished claims that over-reclamation has caused the problems at Gurney Drive.
State Environment Committee chairman Teng Chang Yeow said it is premature to point fingers at the development project in Tanjung Tokong.
He said the prolonged low tide could be due to global warming and not the land reclamation.
February 26, 07 at 8:38 pm
Gurney drive’s present state has nothing to do with global warming but everything to do with inconsiderate developemnt and sea pollutions.
When I was young, Tanjung Bungah beach was OK to swim, Batu Ferringgi was very beautiful and MUka Head was like a shangri La. But Now all these stretches of beaches no longer appeal to me as the water is so dirty.
And it is so convenient to blame on global warming, just like blaming floods on Act of God.
March 1, 07 at 12:01 pm
if based on the global warming causing melting ice caps theory, gurney drive would be flooded, not filled with mud and sludge. the smell around gurney drive is unnatural. probably dumping of rubbish nearby.
January 8, 08 at 11:09 pm
[...] and shot, allegedly sacrificing himself to draw fire away from his wife and driver. Unlike the sludgy foreshore, the hawker center does him no [...]