Penang Heritage Declaration: No Swiftlet Farming !!!

Found at: 
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/4/12/nation/8459823&sec=nation


GEORGE TOWN: Swiftlet farming will be banned and budget hotels will only be allowed to operate in certain areas of the heritage city under a proposed conservation plan.

State Town and Country Planning Department assistant director Neoh Siew Yin said unlike conventional methods like zoning to control development, the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site Special Area Plan would have some non-permissible activities.

“Activities in an heritage area are mixed. The SAP is a blanket development plan that runs concurrently with existing laws.

“Its main purpose is to plug loopholes in the existing regulations and by-laws.

Good idea: Visitors studying the plan’s layout at Komtar.

“The aim is not to punish although once gazetted, it will empower local authorities to address issues that arise from managing a heritage city,” she said on the first day of the plan's exhibition in Komtar here yesterday.

Neoh said both financial and non-financial initiatives would be introduced under the plan to encourage private sector participation in heritage conservation.

“Building owners who comply with good conservation practices will be rewarded with grants and fee waivers,” she said.

The draft, a conservation management plan for the George Town Heritage Site, includes proposals for managing traffic flow within the city, enhancing public spaces, improving pedestrian connectivity, protecting built heritage and culture, and land use within the area.

It was prepared by the state Town and Country Planning Department, the National Heritage Department, the Penang Municipal Council and George Town World Heritage Incorporated.

Neoh said once public feedback had been collected, a hearing would be held to discuss the issues raised.
“Once the amendments have been made, the draft will be brought to the state government for approval, after which it will be presented to the National Heritage Department.”

The plan is being exhibited at Komtar, the George Town World Heritage Incorporated office at Lebuh Acheh and the Town Hall until May 9.

The draft lists some 24 non-permissible activities within the heritage city with certain exceptions in specified zones.

The specified areas are the waterfront zone, financial zone, trade zone, jetty zone, enterprise zone, tourism and leisure zone and special zone.

Swiftlet houses, motor vehicle, vehicle repairs, foreign food and beverage outlets, bowling alley, karaoke, arcade, snooker hall and casino are among the non-permissible activities with no exceptions.