Repair cracks, builder told
05/04/2008 The Star By Ng Su-Ann

THE Penang Municipal Council has directed a developer to repair the cracks on some 10 houses in Changkat Bukit Gambir which appeared after it started work on a nearby apartment project last year.

State Local Government, Traffic Management and Environment Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the council would not hesitate to issue a stop work order if the developer did not comply with the requirements.

“The developer should have taken a more pro-active stance to repair the cracks and not wait for the residents to complain to us before doing something about it,” he told newsmen at the Vista Gambir construction site yesterday.

The visit came in the wake of several complaints from the nearby residents concerning the cracks as well as noise and dust pollution caused by the developer’s rock blasting work at the site.

Condo site:A view of Vista Gambier apartment project near Jalan Bukit Gambier.

Chow said the complainants were also concerned that their access road would be used by the apartment's residents upon the project's completion.

“They fear this will result in traffic congestion,” he said, adding that there were about 50 houses in the neighbourhood.

Council president Datuk Zainal Rahim Seman said: “If the developer doesn't repair (the cracks), we will repair them.”

A company spokesman, who only wanted to be known as Cheah, said they would begin repairing the houses as soon as possible.

On the rock blasting, he said it had been completed.

Vista Gambier is a 19-storey condominium block with two wings comprising 144 units.

The project is expected to be completed at the end of next year.