Despite the setback due to the Covid-19 pandemic, work at the Fort Cornwallis restoration is forging ahead.
Penang state exco for Local Government, Housing, Town and City Planning, Jagdeep Singh Deo made a visit to check on the progress and provide updates.
The project is a partnership between the Penang state government, the George Town Conservation Development Corporation(GTCDC) and Think City with the aim of regenerating and restoring select public assets in the heritage site.
To date, 14 major initiatives completed including the Armenian Park, China Street Ghaut, restoration of Koh Seang Tatt Fountain Garden, improvement of Lebuh Light streetscape, upgrading of Padang subsoil system and numerous planning documents produced to assist with the physical implementation.
“While many projects have been completed, ongoing works at the Fort and the North Seafront have been delayed due to national Movement Control Orders,” said Jagdeep.
The North Seafront Masterplan envisions a much improved public promenade starting from Dewan Sri Pinang (to the west) to Fort Cornwallis and the entrance to Swettenham Pier (to the east).
This project will considerably expand the availability of open space in the city and improve public amenities in George Town’s most significant public concourse area.
Amidst setbacks encountered during the pandemic, commitment in completing the North Seafront continues to ramp up through the planned implementation of Seawall Linear Garden, an open space adjacent to the Seawall project.
The project aims to enhance the quality of public open space in a heritage waterfront for social well- being when the area re-opens to the public in 2022.
This will also complement the Seawall project when it is completed in Quarter 1 2022.
Meanwhile, the Fort Cornwallis moat reinstatement project will be implemented next year.