Debated in Parliament on 11 Jul 2016.
Ms Foo Mee Har asked the Minister for National Development how the development of the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur High Speed Rail will impact the Jurong East region and neighbouring estates.
The siting of the High Speed Rail (HSR) terminus in Jurong East dovetails with the Government's vision to develop Jurong Lake District as a second Central Business District and as a new gateway to Singapore.
The area around the planned HSR site is more than 100 hectares in size. I chair the Jurong Lake District Steering Committee to oversee the development of this new area and we have discussed several broad themes in the development plans. First, we should take advantage of its proximity to the Jurong Lake Gardens, which is itself undergoing a major upgrade, to make this a sustainable district distinguished by beautiful greenery and water.
Beyond the business and commercial provisions, the area will also be an attractive leisure destination, anchored by the revamped Jurong Lake Gardens and the new Science Centre.
Second, the area should be well-integrated with the Jurong Gateway, which is already shaping up well as a vibrant precinct, with a mix of office, retail, residential and other complementary uses. The developments in Jurong Gateway are presently connected by pedestrian links to one another and also to the Jurong East MRT station. These linkages will be extended seamlessly to the HSR site, which is located just south of the Jurong Gateway.
Third, there needs to be an extensive transport network to ensure that residents and visitors can travel in and out of the Jurong East region smoothly. We are mindful of the existing traffic congestion issues in the area and the Government agencies are studying ways to improve the traffic flows. In particular, we will provide for convenient access between the HSR terminus and the nearby MRT stations. This includes the existing MRT station and the upcoming integrated transport hub in Jurong East, as well as the new stations being planned for the Jurong Region Line and Cross Island Line. We will also plan ahead for infrastructure to accommodate new forms of transport, such as autonomous vehicles.
URA will be launching a Request for Proposal today, 11 July 2016, to invite experts to draw up the concept plans for the area. We will also be engaging the public, especially residents in Jurong East and the neighbouring estates, to gather feedback and suggestions.
PAPERCUTS