Tasik Cermin to be developed as country's first quarry eco park

IPOH, Feb 26  -- Tasik Cermin, a popular tourist spot in Gunung Rapat here, will be developed into a quarry eco park, the first in the country and the latest tourism product to attract more visitors to the city.

Perak Housing, Tourism and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohamed Radzi said the Ipoh City Council had appointed Syarikat Tasik Cermin Tourism Sdn Bhd to develop the 26-hectare area.

"Tasik Cermin is an old quarry and is no longer operational but it has two lakes and two tunnels that are unique and have attracted the attention of many tourists.

“The development of the low-carbon tourist attraction is using eco-friendly materials because it is one of the 19 geo-sites located in the Kinta Valley Geopark.

“With the cooperation between the public and private sectors to develop the geo-sites, indirectly it has helped the state government to preserve and promote Kinta Valley Geopark as one of the main national geoparks in the country,”  she told a press conference at the pre-launching of the Tasik Cermin Eco Park Ipoh here today.

Nolee Ashilin said various eco-based tourism projects have been planned and have been divided into several phases including a boat jetty, food and beverages kiosks, a cafe, a glamping site, a Skybridge Glass Walkway and a Tasik Cermin Monorail.

She said several eco-tourism packages are being planned besides facilities like a surau, public toilets, a carpark, eco-friendly pedestrian walkways including horse carriages, buggies, trishaws and bicycles.

She added that the development of Tasik Cermin will offer a lot more job opportunities to local residents.

“We are also working with the departments like the Mineral and Geoscience Department (JMG) for expert advise so that development can be carried out following the standard operating procedure to ensure safety,” she said.

  -- BERNAMA