By Olivia Miwil - September 21, 2021 @ 3:54pm
KOTA KINABALU: The landscape project near Atkinson clock tower and Australian place here is to improve the surroundings of the historic sites, said city mayor Noorliza Awang Alip.
Physical improvement of Atkinson tower and Australian Place areas here is one of the projects under Sabah Development Corridor, which was approved in 2009, reevaluated in 2020 and approved for construction in 2021, she said.
"The project is being funded under Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) whereby Kota Kinabalu City Hall will be the project implementing agency," Noorliza said in a statement.
Yesterday, local heritage conservationists questioned the "unannounced" landscape project in the historic areas around the foothill of Signal Hill.
Conservationist Jefferi Chang, in expressing his concerns with project, asked whether there was a bigger development plan in store for the area around the historic Atkinson tower, the only pre-colonial structure to survive the allied bombings in World War II.
Australian Place is named in honour of soldiers from Land Down Under referred to as Digger's camping in the location when they landed in the state capital, then known as Jesselton towards the end of the second world war in 1945.
Noorliza added the project would involve repair works, construction of slope retaining walls and provision of basic facilities.
It will also upgrade the observatory tower at Signal Hill and have a treetop walkway that connects Atkinson Tower and the observatory tower.
"One objective is to ensure the safety of the Atkinson Tower by having the permanent retaining walls and proper drainage system.
"It is also to provide facilities for visitors, including disabled people with safe and comfortable public areas.
"The project will also improve the lighting around both Atkinson Clock Tower and the observatory tower", she said.
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