Jelutong landfill to undergo rehabilitation, redevelopment
PENANG is embarking on a mission to rehabilitate and redevelop the Jelutong landfill which has been in use for more than 40 years.
At RM1 billion, the rehabilitation and redevelopment of the 34 hectare landfill will be undertaken by PLB Engineering Bhd (PLBEB).
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said, upon completion, the company would surrender 25 per cent of the land to the Penang government, which would then decide on the land use.
He said about 30 per cent of additional land would be created from a minor reclamation at the site.
“The (minor) reclamation involves about two to four hectares. This is not an easy project as the company needs to find an alternative site for construction waste and marine clay. We will work with them to find a permanent site.
“More importantly, due to rapid development it is no longer suitable or relevant for the landfill to be operating at the fringes of the town, hence the idea to rehabilitate and redevelop the site,” he said at the signing of a joint development agreement between the Penang Development Corporation and PLBEB at his office in Komtar here yesterday.
In the interim, a site in Pulau Burung is being used as a landfill, but it will only last for five years.
Chow said the company would take 15 years to complete its development on the 99-year leasehold land, with details to be announced by the company soon.
He said PLBEB would need to apply for approval for an Environmental Impact Assessment from the Department of Environment before it could proceed with the development.
The state government had called for a request for proposal to rehabilitate and redevelop the landfill on March 12 in 2015 and PLBEB was appointed in 2017.
Numerous technical issues had delayed the signing of the agreement for the project.