Retain ex-mining ponds
08/03/2007 The Star By Mazni Mustafa

HOUSING developers in Perak have been encouraged to retain former mining ponds found at their project sites.

State Urban and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Chang Ko Youn said developers were encouraged to do so following a recent decision to include such ponds as part of the 10% open space area as required in every housing scheme.

He said the state government had recently made amendments to its policy on open space in a move to utilise abandoned mining ponds, which could be found in most of the sites approved for housing development in the state.

“We realise that there are a lot of environmental advantages in that besides promoting a better environment to live in, the pre- sence of a pond in a hous- ing scheme can also act as a retention pond to prevent flash floods during a downpour,” he said in Ipoh recently.

Chang, however, noted that not many developers were keen on the idea due to profits.

“Many would prefer to fill up the ponds as this will give them more land area,” he added.

He urged developers to see the larger picture as the presence of such ponds could be a good selling point for their projects.

Citing a developer in Sungai Siput, Chang said the company landscaped the pond and built a jogging track around it.

“With this, residents there can use the pond for recreational activities,” he said, adding that developers were only required to retain one pond that was strategically located while they could fill up others in the project.