Perth

GEORGE TOWN (Oct 12): Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon wants more affordable housing developments with cycleways as part of the government's efforts to build a cleaner, greener, sustainable state.

Rashid is determined to achieve this after his five-day visit last week to Perth, Australia, where he said he was astounded by the success of affordable housing schemes that catered for the environmental and recreational needs of residents.

He said Penang was already developing a cycleway around the island, but “I want to see more such projects around housing developments in the state”.

“Apart from getting developers to include cycleways as part of housing estate developments, we can provide other infrastructure such as cycle racks and water stations,” he said.

Rashid, who cycles for 20km from Queensbay to Komtar every Friday morning, said the waiting list of 21,000 people for affordable housing in Penang was growing, and the government had to find ways to provide more housing, with better facilities.

The deputy chief minister was part of a delegation of 38 people on the visit organised by the Malaysian Institute of Master Planners ( Northern branch) to look at urban revitalisation; master planned estates in affordable housing; and public-private partnerships that turned inner cities into global centres.

Western Australia (WA) is known for innovative affordable housing schemes – it has a long history, having established its Department of Housing in 1913. Transformational projects such as the development of Elizabeth Quay in the heart of Perth are changing the face of WA’s capital city.

The delegation, including members of the institute as well as consultants, engineers, architects and policy makers, toured Ellenbrook, the north-eastern Perth suburb which last June won the International Real Estate Federation award for the world’s best mater planned housing estate.

With Penang working on a similar project in Batu Kawan, developers studied the quality of finishes, the technology, sustainability measures and waterwise designs in Ellenbrook, about 25km from Perth.

Rashid was impressed with WA’s heritage laws, which allowed the government to embrace the conservation of heritage buildings before they were listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

Expertise from WA could be invited to help develop Penang to world standards, he said. -- The Malaysian Insider

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