JKP3 together with St Gobain Contruction & MPSJ launched the first public fruit orchard in JKP3 (USJ2-15) area. 100 fruit trees of various species provided by MPSJ were planted by volunteers from St Gobain Construction.
This is also significant, as since taking over as councillor in 2009, I've been highlighting the plot of land in USJ, which was under the administration of the Department of Civil Aviation, but was in ruins and unkept. We have been pursuing this matter and recently MPSJ has taken back the land, as DCA was not using it anymore.
Upon taking it back, we have restored it as a green land, this time by turning it into a fruit orchard.
This is the 2nd piece of land in zone 3 that has been restored as an open space, after the urban forest in USJ3C which was recently planted with 1111 forest trees.
By EDWARD R. HENRY ewdard@thestar.com.my
A PRIVATE firm has planted 100 fruit trees as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) project on a hillock off Jalan USJ2/2R.
The project, called People’s Orchard, was one of Saint Gobain Construction’s efforts to create a park for the public to come and relax.
Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh said that the top portion of the hillock that once housed radar equipment for the Department of Civil Aviation had been dismantled and the land handed over to the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ).
“With fruits trees grown on top of the hillock and a public park built around it, the park is now a good place for recreational activities. Trees like mango, ciku, soursop, honey guava, kedondong, rambutan and pulasan trees have been planted,” she said.
MPSJ councillor Rajiv Rishyakaran said people would be able to reap the fruits of this labour, literally, in years to come.
Earlier Yeoh, who met the residents living around the area, said she had come to check on the newly installed floodlights and two sets of park table/benches at the park that residents had requested a few months ago in a dialogue session.
“The RM8,730 for the one pole with two lamps and the RM5,000 for the two park tables and eight benches came from my service centre’s allocation. Now, I just want the people to care for the facilities. With the floodlights installed it would help to bring down the crime rate. On the issues of graffiti, vandalism and discarded broken bottles, we need the help of the Subang Jaya district police to conduct patrols in the neighbourhood,” she said.
Yeoh added that her approach has helped to build a strong network with the residents.
Resident Y. Sela said the added facilities and the fruit trees in the park made it a better place for walks in the morning and evening.
“We are a close knit community and improved facilities at a park will augur well as this will encourage neighbours to come out in the late evenings and mingle around,” he said.
Article Source http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/12/14/central/10089023&sec=central
Orchard crops up on vacant land
By DAWN CHAN
SUBANG JAYA
streets@nstp.com.my
A PLOT of land within the USJ2/2R playground, on which a building once stood and where radar equipment was stored, is now an orchard.
The 0.4ha piece of land previously occupied by the Department of Civil Aviation was recently returned to the Subang Jaya Municipal Council after many decades.
Zone 3 councillor Rajiv Rishyarakan, whose areas of responsibility include USJ2, said the old building was abandoned and the surroundings run down.
"We had worked since 2009 to take back the land. After the council takeover, we demolished the building and the land has been put into good use -- as the USJ2 orchard.
"On Dec 3, 60 staff members of Port Klang-based company, Saint Gobain Construction, held a corporate social responsibility programme and planted trees there.
"They planted 100 fruit trees such as kedondong, mango, ciku, rambutan and soursop supplied by the council," he said.
The fencing surrounding the plot of land will not be removed for the time being, said Rajiv.
Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh, thanked the staff of Saint Gobain Construction for the effort.
"It is good to have an orchard as many urban kids do not know what fruit trees look like.
"Any effort, no matter how small, to green the earth deserves praise," she said during a visit to the site.
Saint Gobain Construction leaves its footprint with the planting of trees for a fruit orchard. Pic by Dawn Chan
Read more: Orchard crops up on vacant land - Central - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/orchard-crops-up-on-vacant-land-1.19856#ixzz2HNAOmEoB
