We have sendimentation along Gurney Drive and what appears to be erosion along the Tanjung Bungah sea front.
Blog visitor Michael reports:
Has anyone else noticed the increasing erosion rates along Tanjung Bungah Beach?
My wife and I first began walking along this beach in December 2010. Then there were a line of at least six to seven coconut trees along the upper berm of the beach. These have since been undercut by wave action and have now disappeared.
Next to the Naza Hotel, the bank above the sand, formerly protected by a line of large concrete drainpipe,s has been eroded and now the concrete pipes lie on their sides and have no protective value. The steps down to the beach from the Naza as well as the public steps have all been extended to reach the lowering sand.
The trees that were behind the former coconut trees now have their roots standing exposed to the air and I predict these trees will be dead within the next six months. The sea now reaches at least 20 metres from when we first walked here.
Something has occurred either to the left or right of this beach leading to an overall deficit of sand deposited on this beach. The coconut trees and the trees behind them were/are old trees. Seri Tanjung Pinang postdates these trees. Maybe, the long-shore drift cannot bring sand under natural processes from rock-walls that stop the sea encroaching upon Seri Tanjung Pinang?
Tanjung Bungah Beach is an iconic beach which is losing its natural shade and its beauty. Why?
There is a need for real, ongoing studies by competent independent scientists to monitor how the island (and places north and south of the island) as a natural source of materials interact with coastal processes. Not only is this of academic interest but also it builds a body of statistical data that is available when the state or private developers wishes to interrupt this coastal process. This approach should not be initiated because of the sudden pressure of inappropriate development.
The following types of questions could then be answered:
Where does the sand that replenishes Tanjung Bungah Beach actually come from?
Did in fact the Tsunami of 2004 bring all the mud that is now visible along Gurney Drive or did human intervention cause it?
Another Tanjung Bungah resident told me that several people he knows in the area have also remarked about the erosion.
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The mud flat had accumulated long before the tsunami. During the tsunami because of the mud out in the sea Gurney Drive was not badly affected by the tsunami wave . I am staying next to the Silverton condominium and it was not affected by the wave . I am a shame of what the expert had said that the tsunami had cause the mud to accumulate, he is so ignorant . What kind of expert is he where is his certificate ?
The mud was accumulated from years of sludge discharged from the island, not washed ashore from any wave, tsunami or not. The solution is to improve on sewerage treatment process like Singapore that turn the sewerage waste (night soil) into compost to fertilize the garden city.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_soil
Anil, this is not related to the topic, but it will be great if u can write about the latest traffic flow changes to ‘divert the traffic’ around Jalan Gottlieb and Gurney area. I think it’s creating a bigger jam along Jalan Gottlieb.
Problem is too many cars on the road.
Penagites should learn to take public transport like Rapid Penang.
The problem lies within Penang’s lack of proper coastal management. The beach is constantly changing, that’s just Mother Nature doing her job. We’re the idiots here who continue to ignore these very important facts when we build things. Buildings..(any type) should NOT be built too close to the beach. Beach erosion takes decades and what we have now is because of this. Look at Naza Hotel and Four Points by Sheraton (previously Tanjung Bungah Beach Resort)…someone thought building a wall would stop erosion, well it doesn’t really – especially not when contractors try to save cost by cutting corners. I… Read more »
Where does the sand that replenishes Tanjung Bungah Beach actually come from?
of course in beginning they are from the universal phenomena (some call God’s gift ?).
the sand price is now profitably high hence a lot of illegal dredging here and there.
If Federal (cuti-cuti Bolehland) & Penang government (can actually transform ‘cat’ skyline & coastline) are truly aware of the original charms of Tanjung Bungah, they can get Extravagance & Opulence group to expand the size of the Tanjung Bungah beaches to appeal to the Arab$ as well as to the locals rich or poor.
It is a sight to see the Arab ladies at the beach with their burkini swimming costumes.
All these problems did not happen overnight, the past Umno/Bn regimes did not do anything about them either they were too busy filling their pockets or the pockets of their lackeys, period.
No proper sewerage treatment system – all discharge (including the waste from Gurney hawkers) go directly to the seafront to breed Hepatitis.
The sediments are actually sludge, may have commercial value as organic fertilizer?
I think we all know what caused Gney Drive to become all muddy. It is definitely not the Tsunami. Unless Gney Drive is the only area in the world to have been hit by the Tsunami.
Haha Tsunami of 2004? Are you kidding Anil?
rajraman.Tsunami of over friendly Demi GOD government towards greedy developer.Don’t blame the act of god year 2004 like Samy.