GEORGE TOWN, Feb 25 — The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) welcomed today the rehabilitation of the Gurney Drive foreshore and creation of parks for more greenery, but opposed the proposed artificial waterfront park-in-the-city.

SM Mohamed Idris who is president for both CAP and SAM said the sourcing of fill materials, such as sand and rocks, for the reclamation is a cause for concern.

"To create a park here, you are actually causing devastating impacts to the natural environment elsewhere following quarrying and sand-mining or dredging activities to source these fill material," he said in a statement issued against the proposed Gurney Wharf project.

He also noted with concern the proposed creation of an artificial sandy beach, one of the components of Gurney Wharf.

He pointed out that Gurney Drive used to be a sandy beach many decades ago before it became muddy.

"We need to understand why in the first place the foreshore of Gurney Drive became muddy, otherwise maintaining this artificial beach is going to be expensive," he said, adding that there is the issue of sourcing sand for the beach for many more years if the foreshore continues to be sedimented.

He said the impacts of reclamation which changes the natural shape of the island are still not fully understood.

"We are concerned about the direct and indirect economic and environmental impacts of the project. Surely there can be other ways to improve the Gurney Drive foreshore without a project of this magnitude and implications," he said.

Mohamed was responding to the recent announcement of the proposed seafront project planned for part of 131 acres of reclaimed land off Gurney Drive.

The waterfront park will be created on land to be reclaimed by Tanjung Pinang Development Sdn Bhd, and will feature a seaside retail food and beverage area, water gardens, a man-made beach and a coastal grove.