Infrastructure & development

Dennis Tan Lip Fong questioned the rationale behind building wildlife exclusion fences between Central Catchment Nature Reserve and Lorong Asrama forest, given the government's commitment to enhancing ecological connectivity. Chee Hong Tat explained that the fences are intended to reduce vehicular-wildlife collisions in identified high-risk areas, with input from wildlife groups and experts. The fences also guide wildlife to safer crossing options like the Eco-Link @ BKE and existing culverts to facilitate movement between green spaces.

Charlene Chen asked about the assessment of cumulative traffic noise exposure in residential areas near expressways and if environmental noise mitigation criteria would be reviewed for long-term impacts on health. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that the National Environment Agency conducts Traffic Noise Impact Assessments for new residential developments near traffic noise sources and projects future noise levels while recommending mitigation measures. The NEA collaborates with other agencies to periodically review the Technical Guidelines for Land Traffic Noise Impact Assessment to maintain their relevance.

Jackson Lam asked about the cost and energy intensity of desalinated water compared to NEWater and imported water over the past five years, the expected changes with a sixth desalination plant, and how the government plans to balance water security with affordability. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that desalinated water is currently more energy-intensive and costly than NEWater and imported water but is essential for weather resilience. The sixth desalination plant will utilize advanced technologies to potentially reduce production costs, and investments in water infrastructure are necessary to meet growing demand. Water conservation efforts are also key to managing demand and minimizing costs.

Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat raised concerns about the rising battery fire incidents from Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) and suggested piloting fire-rated outdoor charging cabinets in HDB void decks or carparks, potentially with subsidized electricity rates. Chee Hong Tat responded that agencies are monitoring PMD ownership and charging practices, and while they evaluate overseas models, local context must be considered, including potential space trade-offs for residents. He emphasized the importance of preventing fires by ensuring PMDs meet safety standards, advocating for compliance in device purchases, and mentioned plans to strengthen regulations on non-compliant PMDs and their online sales.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong raised concerns about disamenities related to the bus depot construction between Tampines Road and Buangkok East Drive, asking what measures had been taken to address residents' feedback, including relocation requests. Jeffrey Siow responded that while the depot cannot be relocated, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is implementing several mitigating measures. These include constructing a 12-metre-high temporary noise barrier, installing noise monitoring systems, and minimizing dust through water spraying and vehicle cleaning.

Ng Chee Meng raised concerns about two fatal fall-from-height incidents during the Jurong Region Line construction, asking about identified safety lapses and future measures for fall prevention. Tan See Leng responded that investigations are ongoing and specific details about the incidents are not yet available. Work-at-height activities must adhere to the Workplace Safety and Health Regulations, which include safety provisions such as guardrails and a fall prevention plan. The Ministry of Manpower will learn from these incidents to enhance safety measures as necessary.

Darryl David asked if there are plans to include public housing in the future development of Pulau Brani. Chee Hong Tat responded that under the Greater Sentosa Master Plan, Pulau Brani will be developed as a leisure and tourism destination, with no current plans for public housing in the area.

Fadli Fawzi questioned the rationale for not keeping Masjid Al-Firdaus in Choa Chu Kang alongside the new mosque in Tengah, and about access for servicemen and foreign workers to the new site. Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik raised concerns about the decision to close Masjid Al-Firdaus after 63 years and whether alternatives to its demolition were considered. Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim explained that Masjid Al-Firdaus operates on a Temporary Occupation Licence and will remain until the new mosque is completed in the early 2030s, which will better serve the community with larger capacity and enhanced facilities. MUIS plans to document and preserve the heritage of Masjid Al-Firdaus while working with local agencies to address community prayer needs.

Yip Hon Weng questioned the Minister for National Development about the number of BTO projects with waiting times over five years, reasons for the delays, maximum wait times, and how HDB is using technology to improve construction productivity. Chee Hong Tat reported that there are 120 BTO projects underway, with 12 exceeding five years, the longest being close to six years. Longer timelines are attributed to stringent environmental measures and challenging ground conditions. HDB is utilizing technology, including standardization, robotics, and digital platforms, to reduce waiting times, resulting in 70% of flats launched in the past three years having waiting times of four years or less.

Lee Hui Ying asked about the government's plans to address capacity constraints for soil disposal and re-use of excavated soil due to increasing demands from construction and land reclamation. Chee Hong Tat explained that excavated materials are sent to staging grounds before being reused at reclamation sites. The government has initiated a new reclamation project at Northern Tuas Basin to enhance disposal capacity for excavated materials. Ongoing monitoring and collaboration with the industry will ensure that further measures are taken if necessary.

Fadli Fawzi questioned the Acting Minister for Transport about the percentage of roads in Singapore with three or more lanes in each direction that lack bus lanes. Jeffrey Siow responded that approximately 80% of these roads currently do not have bus lanes. The government plans to reduce this percentage to prioritize public transport and enhance travel times for commuters.

Valerie Lee requested an update on regional import projects with Conditional Approvals or Licenses issued by the Energy Market Authority, including information on any unviable projects. Gan Kim Yong reported that eleven projects have received Conditional Approvals to import eight gigawatts of low-carbon electricity from countries such as Australia and Indonesia, with six Indonesian projects progressing to Conditional Licenses. All companies involved in these projects remain committed to their development, and the government will work with source countries and developers to assess project viability further.

Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat raised concerns regarding increased peak traffic demands due to the completion of Kovan Wellspring BTO, asking about congestion plans, bus and MRT capacity upgrades, and timelines for improvements. Jeffrey Siow responded that road improvements will occur at the junction of Tampines Road and Upper Serangoon Road alongside the Kovan Wellspring development. The Kovan MRT station currently has 12 bus services and will implement free morning off-peak rail rides on the North East Line starting in December 2025 to alleviate train crowding during peak hours.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong questioned the Minister for National Development about environmental assessments for the construction of a bus depot in a forested area along Sungei Serangoon. The Minister of State, Alvin Tan, clarified that the site, classified as brownfield, does not require an environmental study due to its limited impact on sensitive habitats and mentioned that mitigating measures will be implemented during construction. Dennis Tan raised concerns from residents about noise and dust from the depot's operations and advocated for relocating the depot to avoid environmental disruption in the forested area. Alvin Tan emphasized the site's long-standing industrial zoning and the efforts to mitigate disamenities during construction.

Fadli Fawzi asked about the peak capacity determination, crowded ActiveSG gyms, and the potential for increasing gym facilities in high-demand areas. Ms. Goh Hanyan explained that gym capacities are set to maximize access while ensuring safety and user space, with higher visitorship seen in larger gyms like Senja-Cashew and Clementi. There are plans for at least one gym in each residential town, with potential expansions during renovations. Fadli also inquired about considerations for new gym locations and the possibility of gyms in shopping malls, to which Goh indicated that planning is guided by population parameters and will continue to be reviewed in the Sports Facilities Master Plan.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik questioned the Deputy Prime Minister about Singapore GasCo's plans to develop spot trading capabilities for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and to collaborate with financial institutions or commodity exchanges to manage price volatility. The Minister for Manpower, Dr. Tan See Leng, confirmed that Singapore GasCo aims to create a diversified gas supply portfolio to enhance security and manage price volatility, while ensuring procurement practices avoid reliance on sanctioned entities. He also mentioned the establishment of a standby LNG facility to buffer against supply disruptions and announced the construction of a second LNG terminal to increase capacity by 50%, expected to be completed between 2028 and 2030. Finally, Dr. Tan assured that pricing volatility would be managed through a diversified portfolio starting in 2026.

Choo Pei Ling asked the Acting Minister for Transport about the possibility of opening Tengah Link, a bus-only road, to general traffic during off-peak hours to improve connectivity. Jeffrey Siow explained that Tengah Link is designed exclusively for buses to ensure quick access to Tengah town, and opening it to general traffic would lead to longer bus travel times and traffic congestion. He acknowledged the call for better connectivity in Tengah but confirmed that due to planned increases in bus services, the road will remain a dedicated bus corridor, making it impractical to allow private cars. Additionally, options to widen the road were not feasible due to surrounding infrastructure constraints.

Lee Hui Ying asked if there will be additional Silver Zones beyond the planned 50 and how the needs of the ageing population will be reviewed. The Senior Minister of State for Transport responded that there are currently no plans for more Silver Zones, as the focus has shifted to the Friendly Streets initiative, which will expand across all towns by 2030. Lee expressed concerns about the safety of senior pedestrians in the Friendly Streets pilot and requested information on the criteria for selection of these streets, as well as the inclusion of Nee Soon South in future plans. The Minister confirmed that Friendly Streets will be implemented in high-activity areas and highlighted that feedback has shown a 20% reduction in vehicle speeds in completed projects, contributing to pedestrian safety.