Forest City

The Next Big Thing in Iskandar

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO - FANTASTIC! 

Breathtaking Forest City

Forest City got me curious enough to drive half an hour from my village abode to see what the fuss and buzz was all about this new uber-upscale development - apparently a brainchild of Sultan of Johor.  He had envisioned a ultra-modern metropolis (that would posdibly rival or even surpass Singapore) and a lush urban getaway on four man-made islands in Iskandar Malaysia. 

 

Carless City On The Surface

However it made news recently with protests regarding land reclamation and environmental issues.  It seemed to have been resolved as when we visited, construction seemed all systems go at the over 1,386.05ha Forest City site.  



Forest City is a joint development with Johor's Esplanade Danga 88 Sdn Bhd.With an estimated investment of S$58.3 billion (RM175.8 billion) over the next 20 years, Forest City is expected to fuel the economic development of Iskandar region, the main southern development corridor in Johor and neighbouring Singapore. Eight industries including education, healthcare and tourism will be the main economic pillars of growth at Forest City.



Ambitious project set to rival Sentosa Singapore and Johor's Danga Bay & Puteri Harbor

 Part of the first phase of Forest City includes condominiums and high-rise coastal residences whose show units can be viewed at its Danga Bay office at Country Gardens site.  The two to four-bedroom condominiums and high-rise coastal residences are exceptionally designed and are situated within leafy foliage corridors and car-free avenues with gated security. Average prices are RM1,200 (S$406) per sq ft - from about RM500,000 for a 517 sq ft studio to RM3.54 million for a 1,862 sq ft four-bedroom unit - comparable to prices in Iskandar Puteri, the new name for the township of Nusajaya just after the Second Link.

As part of the long-term planning for Forest City, Country Garden is in discussions with the

Malaysian Government to set up dedicated entry points such as a light rail transit system and a ferry network that would link it to Singapore and to the planned high-speed rail service between Singapore and Malaysia.

Althought everything seems to be on track, there has been some pros and cons concerning renewable energy in Forest City the pros are, renewable energy sources are clean and will result in a little or no net-carbon and greenhouse emissions. It will never deplete the natural resources on earth. There is no negative impact on the environment. No toxic air pollutants will be released to the atmosphere similar to other methods used today. This will help keep the population on earth healthier in the long run. Which is excatly what Forest City is aiming for. 

The cons are alternative energy relies heavily on the weather patterns on earth. In the event of weather not producing the desirable conditions, the industry will lack the capacity to produce alternative energy. Unpredictable weather patterns are some of the major concerns when it comes to alternative energy production. So careful planning and execution are essential requirements when it comes to establishing alternative energy plants. Specialized knowledge and advanced technology are mandatory for such projects. These are some of the main disadvantages of producing alternative energy for our future. 

Sources: Star Online & Straits Times