I have gone to the site on several occasions and during the rain also as I am very interested in this project.
Don't you guys think that the slope looks dangerous.
Anyone knows if the guidelines for hill slope developments and in particular this case, Zefer Hill uses the same guidelines as when Bukit Antarabangsa condos were built or is there a different guideline now.

I am sure this is not a trivial issue. It is our lives that we are talking about here apart from the cost of >500k that we are forking out for this project. The problem is, I like the concept of this project and the view that I am willing to forgo the somewhat bad access road to it. What I cannot compromise is the hill slope and the danger it might pose to me and my family.

Kanasaikuat, would the developer be able to confirm on the measures taken by them to address the soil erosion issue. Would the developer be building retention walls at the hill slope and if not, can they ensure the buyers / potential buyers that it is safe and void of future soil erosion? I have read in another thread about soil erosion matters in Puchong and it troubles me and my wife. Kanasaikuat, I do not know if you are planning to ask the SA on this issue but I think they may not be in any position to give you any confirmation or on the minute details on soil testing and soil erosion measures.

If I am not mistaken, it was the underground flow of water in the soil under the Bkt Antarabangsa condo that took the condo down. The foundation was still strong but it went down nevertheless.

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Added on April 18, 2012, 2:16 pmLess than 25 degrees?? You should take a better look at the slopes or better still, take the SA along. A properly built retaining wall would serve as a comfort to owners at this area. Not sure of the cost to maintain this wall but it would be another issue and not sure if this costs would be borne by the owners and included in the maintenance fees. I believe this issues must be addressed and I may turn up at the sales office this Saturday. Without any confirmation on these issues, I will not jump into the bandwagon.

This post has been edited by normanbates: Apr 18 2012, 02:16 PM

[quote=suety86,Apr 18 2012, 03:26 PM]
[CODE]

you have a good point there. do share with us once you've grilled the SA about it this Saturday. I'm sure all of us have concerns about it too.

I'll ask again about it too. I'm sure if most of us do that, they'll need to do something to ensure our peace of mind.

[/quote]

This was a reply from SA when I enquire about the condo. Just to share with you guys. But of course, if anyone of you could grill them for more information it would be better.

Q1 : Zefer is built beside the slope. What is the degree of slope where Zefer will be built on?

A1. The overall slope gradients is less than 25 degree.

Q2 : Is there any regular maintenance on the slope and what are the regular maintenance to be performed? How often will that be?

A2 : There are various monitoring instrumentation for the project which, during and post construction. Piezometer standpipes and inclinometer will be installed to monitor any movement in ground during construction.
Monitoring after project completed will be carried on 3-4 times a year.

Q3 : What type of structures will be built to prevent slope failure? What are the safety precaution taken by the developer to prevent slope failure?

A3 : The foundation will be bored pile structures which, boring will be until hard layer of earth. Safety precaution are as explained in Item 2 above. If the Purchaser noticed, most of the building will be on flat ground.

Q4 : Has any independent body checked on the slope?

A4 : IKRAM is the approving authority for our proposed foundation structures.

Q5 : Any action to be taken by the developer to built alternative road to Zefer or widen the road as there is only 1 road in/out for all the condominium over there.

A5 : There are upgrading of existing roads only, to include create free-flow going-out traffic lane from zefer to jln bandar puchong jaya, and signalised junction.

[/quote]


1. I seriously doubt answer no 1;

2. We need to confirm if answer to no 2, 3 and 4 consist of all the measures to be taken in accordance to the regulations set by the authorities with regards to hill slope condominium projects;
(Hope someone can provide insight if there is any change in the regulations after the Bkt Antarabangsa tragedy?)

3. Further on answer no 2 above, would the said 3-4 times a year checking be done during the first year after completion or will this be an ongoing thing. I say this because this would require extra costs and who will bear this cost after VP is given to the buyers?

4. As to no 5, other than tarring the road, I doubt the road leading to Zefer can be widen given the narrow access between Villamas Apartment and the 'sport complex' (badminton courts).

Thanks, Jall for the input. Hill slopes are indeed sensitive development area especially for high rise products.

I have been reading this thread but am indeed surprise to see no serious discussion on the most important issue, safety in hill slope high rise project. Hence, I have gone to the site many times already. Even the guard at Atmosfera knows me already.

Just downloaded Theodelite Free on my iphone. Don't know how to use lar. Looks very complicated.

Got it. Thanks, Jall.

Checkout this article in The Star in 2011. Is Jalan Tiong 2 just beneath Atmosfera?
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file...178&sec=central

Living in fear after landslide
By LIM CHIA YING
chiaying@thestar.com.my
Photos by AZLINA ABDULLAH


Heavy rain caused a landslide in Jalan Tiong 2, Puchong Jaya 1, damaging a car on Thursday evening.

No one was injured in the landslide which occurred at about 4.30pm after a downpour.

The residents’ representative, S. Anbalagan, said upon seeing the earth and trees coming down, he called the police who later contacted the local authority and the fire station.

The Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) employees arrived about half an hour later to assess the situation and cordoning off the affected area with plastic sheets.

Temporary protection: Plastic sheets covering the landslide area.
Kinrara assemblyman Teresa Kok visited the site with MPSJ engineering department deputy director Mohd Ariffuddin Kamari and the developer’s representative Vincent Tan.

Ariffuddin said they would build a 100m V-shaped drain at the top of the hill to drain rain water.

“Now, without a drainage system, water would seep into the slope,” he said.

Ariffuddin said the cost of building the drain would be worked out first before deciding if the bill should be shared or borne by one party.

“Although the developer has their own system to channel water out, there is seepage at the hillside,” he said.

He said he had asked the developer to rectify the situation under Act 133 of Section 70 (A) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1974 or they could be compounded up to RM250,000.

The collapsed part of the hill will also be repaired by both the council and the developer.

“The trees will be trimmed and we are also asking residents not to park their cars at the foot of the hill because repair work will be carried out,” said Ariffuddin.

Residents also feared for their safety as construction debris was being thrown down from a broken rubbish chute of a building under construction.

Tan said the rubbish chute would be repaired while the a new green netting would replace the torn one.

“We will also be building a retaining wall at the hillside to prevent further landslides,” said Tan.

He said they had a safety consultant based at the site to monitor the project.

He said the Kondominium Atmosfera project, which started two years ago, was expected to be ready by the end of the year.

Kok said she was glad to have the cooperation of the MPSJ and the developer in this case.

“The MPSJ responded swiftly by arriving in just half an hour,” she added.

S. Palaniandy, 62, whose car was damaged, said the landslide caused the mud flow until his gate.