The residents had recently lost a court battle to overturn the rezoning of the land. However, a challenge to the planning permission granted to the developer is now before the Penang Appeals Board.

The land is being cleared to make way for the projects, a resident of the adjacent One Tanjung condominium told FMT.

Since being reclaimed from the sea more than two decades ago, the land, nicknamed the “Sore Thumb” by residents, has become a sanctuary for various species of animals, in particular sea otters, spectacled langurs, eagles and other migratory birds that have made the forest their nesting grounds, residents told FMT.

The developer, Lone Pine Group, should not proceed with any further work until the Penang Appeals Board has made a final decision, said a resident, a European expatriate who requested anonymity.

“If the ruling ends up overturning or changing the planning permission, what’s been done can’t simply be undone, and the damage to the ecosystem could already be irreversible,” she said.

Local residents have said the land was illegally reclaimed over 20 years ago by a developer who used it as a dumping ground for rocks and soil.

The reclaimed land was later divided into two lots: one was given to the state, while the other, Lot 4658, was leased to Lone Pine Group, the developer of One Tanjong, which intends to build the wellness suites and the public park.

The residents are waiting for the approved traffic, environmental, and social impact assessment reports for the projects to be handed over, which the state appeals board has requested the developer to provide by Nov 13.

Another resident, who also requested anonymity, voiced concern that the proposed public park next to the wellness suites might not genuinely benefit the local community, but would likely instead serve the centre’s client rehabilitation programmes.

He is also of the view that there is no need for another urban park since the Hillside neighbourhood park is located 300m away.

The resident, a foreign expatriate, also claimed that the proposed development does not comply with environmental regulations governing offshore projects and contain procedural and legal irregularities that require further investigation.

Tanjung Bungah Residents Association chairman Zulfikar Abdul Aziz told FMT the association contacted the chief minister’s office on Oct 17 requesting a meeting to share the residents’ concerns.

FMT has sought comment from the chief minister’s office.

On June 19, the Federal Court denied 49 One Tanjong apartment owners leave to appeal in their attempt to quash a decision to rezone the land in question.

Impact reports being prepared, says developer

Lone Pine Group said the wellness suites and public park project has received the necessary approvals from state and local authorities for the project’s environmental, social, and traffic impact assessment reports.

“We are in the midst of compiling the requested reports for the management corporation of One Tanjong,” company spokesman Ooi Sheng Long told FMT.

Ooi denied claims that the firm failed to consult residents on the project, saying focus group discussions were held not only with One Tanjong residents, but also condominiums and neighbourhoods located within a 2km radius of the site.

The discussions were held as part of the social impact assessment required by local authorities, he said. However, some residents had not responded with their views on the project.

“We hope that the residents can appoint their own representatives who can engage in discussions with the developer so that we can better understand their concerns regarding the project,” he said.

He also said that the firm was allowed by the state’s urban and country planning department between May and July  to carry out hoarding, land clearance, and earthworks on the state land and Lot 4658.

Ooi said the company does not take the park project lightly, as it is committed to building one that could serve the community well while incorporating the land’s existing landscapes.

“We are trying to give the state and the people the public park that parties like the TBRA have requested for years,” he said.