No more cars in Lake Gardens

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No more cars in Lake Gardens

Council:

TAIPING

Traffic could potentially harm park's 120-year-old rain trees

By CHAN LI LEEIM [email protected] PART of Taiping Lake Gardens will b e closed off to motorised vehicles effective immediately, in a m o v e to p r e s e r v e its r a i n trees.

Taiping M u n i c i p a l Council p r e s i d e n t Datuk Abd Rahim Md Ariff said a 630m-stretch of road., w h i c h m a k e s u p a b o u t a q u a r t e r of t h e e n t i r e Lake G a r d e n s loop, will p e r m a n e n t l y b e c o m e a p e d e s t r i a n w a l k a n d cycling p a t h .

' T h e r e a r e a b o u t 15 r a i n trees, all of t h e m m o r e t h a n 120 y e a r s old. Their roots a r e very sensitive a n d any vehicle t h a t passes in t h e area, h a s an impact on t h e roots u n d e r n e a t h .

"We a r e hoping t h a t by closing off t h e road, t h e rain t r e e s can live f o r a n o t h e r 100 years." Abd Rahim said.

The closure, h e added, also m e a n t t h a t Taiping folk w o u l d h a v e a n o t h e r spot to exercise a n d enjoy t h e scenery.

According to Abd Rahim, t h e decision to b a n motorised vehicles w a s m a d e after consultations with several quarters, including the National Landscape D e p a r t m e n t , Torest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) a n d public interest groups.

"We a r e w o r k i n g closely w i t h the d e p a r t m e n t a n d TRIM.

"In fact, this m o v e is based on t h e i r recommendations." h e said.

'This decision h a s b e e n a long one in t h e making.

' I t has taken us some time to come u p with t h e n e w ruling because the state government's approval is r e q u i r e d a n d changes in t h e by-law m u s t b e gazetted," h e added.

Abd Rahim also said r e c e n t tests carried out on t h e 15 r a i n t r e e s showed that, except f o r one or t w o trees, the density of their t r u n k s look fine f o r now.

Lauding t h e council's initiative to p r e s e r v e die r a i n trees, housewife Satia Kaur, 61, said rain t r e e s s u r r o u n d i n g t h e lake w a s a beauti- f u l sight.

"The place is really picturesque.

You can see t h e r a i n t r e e s f r o m o n e e n d to a n o t h e r .

"It is also better to close t h e r o a d because right now, w e h a v e to keep looking out f o r c a r s or motorcycles.

"Sometimes, there a r e e v e n lorries that speed past.

"There is n o peace w h e n you a r e trying to relax," she said, adding that the a r e a u s e d to be also f r e q u e n t e d by mat rempit.

Media relations executive Choo Filepic

Taiping Lake Garden's rain trees are 120 years old and the council hopes they will live for another 100 more.

Pei Wei, w h o likes to u n w i n d a n d enjoy t h e n a t u r a l b e a u t y of t h e Lake G a r d e n s on w e e k e n d s , said t h e step taken b y t h e council to p r e s e r v e the r a i n t r e e s is necessary.

"As it is, t h e b r a n c h e s of t r e e s along t h a t section of t h e Lake Gardens a r e growing really low.

"They are almost touching t h e surface of t h e w a t e r a n d eventually some m a y obscure t h e view of motorists. To close off t h e road w o u l d b e the b e s t thing to do, as cutting d o w n the t r e e s is not a n option," Choo said.

Established i n 1880, the Taiping Lake Gardens is one of t h e oldest in Malaysia.

W h a t w a s a disused m i n i n g a r e a w a s t r a n s f o r m e d into a n a t u r e sanctuary.

From t h e lake, one can stroll to the Taiping Zoo.

It is also t h e gateway to Maxwell Hill or Bukit Larut as it is k n o w n

today. The serene Taiping Lake Garden is popular among both locals and tourists. —

Headline No more cars in Lake Gardens MediaTitle The Star (Metro North)

Date 21 Dec 2017 Color Full Color

Section News Circulation 250,667

Page No 6 Readership 752,000

Language English ArticleSize 392 cm²

Journalist CHAN LILEEN AdValue RM 9,861

Frequency Daily PR Value RM 29,583

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A picture showing an uprooted tree. It was taken by a passerby using a mobile phone, Taiping residents welcome the council's action to protect the rain trees,