Infrastructure & development — Topics

13 Sep 2022

Delay in Opening of Phase 3 of Thomson-East Coast MRT Line

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim questioned the reasons for the delay in opening Phase 3 of the Thomson-East Coast MRT Line to the end of the year compared to the original second-half schedule and whether recent faults influenced the decision.
S Iswaran clarified that Phase 3 remains on track for a second-half-of-the-year opening as announced, with extensive testing and rectification of identified issues to ensure system functionality.
LTA completed system tests and integration with existing lines within limited engineering hours, and the operator STEL has taken over TEL3 for trial runs and staff training to prepare for passenger service.

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13 Sep 2022

Announcement of and Public Consultation for Land Use Plans for Changi Bay Reclamation Site

Leon Perera asked when land use plans for Changi Bay will be announced and if plans for major irreversible projects like reclamation can be disclosed for public scrutiny.
Desmond Lee stated that the Government engages the public through exhibitions and discussions during long-term and master plan reviews, with feedback considered where feasible.
He noted that Changi Bay reclamation plans were exhibited in 1991 and 2022, and the environmental study report was made public in July this year.
The timeline and specific land use plans for Changi Bay are still under study and will be announced when ready.

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12 Sep 2022

Measures to Ensure New Buildings and Estates are Designed for Easier Maintenance to Minimise Mosquito Breeding

The Minister for National Development explained that NEA's Code of Practice on Environmental Health provides guidelines for building design to minimise mosquito breeding, including the use of anti-mosquito devices and the disallowance of roof gutters in new developments.
HDB implements these guidelines by ensuring adequate gradients in roofs, paved areas, and drains to prevent water stagnation, and uses direct rainwater downpipes and anti-mosquito devices in floor traps.
HDB’s landscaping guidelines avoid plants that can trap water, and the agency regularly reviews designs with new technology and feedback from Town Councils and residents.

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12 Sep 2022

Reasons Commercial and Institutional Building Owners Not Tapping On Accessibility Fund for Barrier-free Access

Building owners are not tapping the Accessibility Fund mainly due to cashflow concerns from expensive works like lift installation and space constraints in older buildings.
The Building and Construction Authority has enhanced the fund to offer interim payments for lift projects over $200,000, allowing owners to claim up to 70% of funding during construction.
To speed up upgrades, BCA will require owners of larger non-barrier-free commercial and institutional buildings to add basic accessibility features during any addition or alteration works starting early 2023.

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12 Sep 2022

Oversubscription of Primary 1 Places at Princess Elizabeth Primary School

Mr Murali Pillai highlighted the persistently high oversubscription for Primary 1 places at Princess Elizabeth Primary School due to new housing developments, asking if MOE will build an additional school nearby.
MOE explained it carefully studies local demand and supply trends, considering demographics and regional planning, and avoids creating new schools too quickly to prevent cannibalising existing ones.
For Bukit Batok, sufficient Primary 1 places remain at nearby Lianhua and Bukit View Primary schools, with about 200 places (14%) unsold this year, slightly higher than last year.
MOE is closely monitoring trends and projected demand from planned housing developments, having factored them into ongoing planning and being close to finalising plans.

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12 Sep 2022

Green Cover Target and Plans to Intensify Greenery Density in Singapore

Singapore’s green cover currently stands at over 40%, with more than 7,800 hectares of green spaces safeguarded, and the government plans to safeguard an additional 1,000 hectares over the next 10 to 15 years.
Key plans to intensify greenery include planting one million more trees by 2030 under the OneMillionTrees movement, incorporating lush vegetation in parks, and naturalising waterways to improve biodiversity and flood resilience.
Strategies to strengthen greenery density involve holistic urban planning through programmes like LUSH, incentives for vertical greenery, and creating ecological corridors called Nature Ways to connect green spaces across the island.
The government aims to create a "City in Nature" by enhancing the quality of existing green spaces, introducing therapeutic landscapes, and engaging the community to co-create green areas for a more liveable home.

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12 Sep 2022

Measures to Cope with Drought in Singapore

The Ministry defines a drought as a period of at least three consecutive months with rainfall more than 50% below the long-term 30-year average, and notes that Singapore experienced one drought in 1983, with several dry spells in the past decade.
With climate change, Singapore expects more frequent and prolonged droughts, and has adopted a long-term strategy to ensure a resilient water supply through the Four National Taps and investments in new desalination and NEWater facilities.
The government emphasizes the need for continued water conservation by everyone to support resilience in the nation’s water supply under all circumstances.

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12 Sep 2022

Rezoning Land along Fernvale Close and Fernvale Link

Mr Gan Thiam Poh questioned the reasons for rezoning the land from Reserve to Residential and asked if it could instead be zoned for Educational Institutions, while also seeking plans to address traffic congestion and the demand for schools, greenery, and recreational facilities.
Minister Desmond Lee explained that the rezoning is to meet housing needs, following public consultation under the Planning Act, and that upcoming measures include new roads, expanded light rail capacity, and park provisions to alleviate traffic and community concerns.
The Minister emphasized the importance of balancing competing land uses in land-scarce Singapore and affirmed ongoing collaboration with agencies and stakeholders in planning for the site.

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2 Aug 2022

Master Planning of 390-hectare Lim Chu Kang Area for High-Tech Agri-food Cluster

Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked about the criteria and inclusion of existing and conventional farms in the master plan for Lim Chu Kang's high-tech agri-food cluster.
Grace Fu Hai Yien stated that the master plan aims to boost sustainable food production under the "30 by 30" vision, with both existing and new farms able to bid for plots after planning stages.
SFA is agnostic to farming methods and will select proposals based on productivity and resource efficiency, without specifying the number of existing farms to be included.

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2 Aug 2022

Measures to Manage Rising Sea Levels and Unpredictable Weather Patterns

Singapore's mean sea levels have risen 10 cm over the last four decades and are projected to rise by up to 1 meter by 2100, with potential temporary peaks up to 4-5 meters due to extreme tides and storm surges.
The government is conducting site-specific coastal adaptation studies, including options like sea walls and tidal gates, and has set up a $5 billion Coastal and Flood Protection Fund to fund drainage and coastal protection measures.
PUB has invested $2 billion in drainage works and requires new developments to implement stormwater management measures, while using technology like radars and sensors for early flood warnings and coordinated public alerts.

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2 Aug 2022

Implementation of Red-Amber-Green Arrows at Traffic Junctions to Replace Discretionary Right Turns

LTA has installed Red-Amber-Green arrows at 798 junctions to replace discretionary right turns, with plans to reach 1,200 junctions by Q1 2024, resulting in a 40% reduction in accidents involving right turns at implemented sites.
Additional safety features like road markings, lighted studs, and integrated pedestrian timers are being deployed, alongside Silver Zones for senior-heavy areas, which have cut accidents among senior pedestrians by 80%.
LTA collaborates with the Traffic Police and Singapore Road Safety Council on educational programs to promote road safety awareness and responsible behavior among all road users.

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2 Aug 2022

Targets under Trial for Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project

The LTMS-PIP trial allows Singapore to import up to 100 megawatts of renewable energy from Laos for two years to study the feasibility of cross-border power trade as a pathfinder for the ASEAN Power Grid.
Since its start in June 2022, the project has facilitated steady electricity trading, supplying around 65,500 megawatt-hours to meet the demand of approximately 140,000 households, demonstrating the viability of regional collaboration for decarbonization.
The Energy Market Authority will monitor the project to refine technical and regulatory frameworks for importing large-scale low-carbon electricity, with plans to import up to four gigawatts by 2035 through initiatives like the ongoing Request for Proposal.
Commitments from electricity trade are expected to attract foreign direct investments into the renewable energy sector in Laos and the region, supporting economic opportunities and decarbonization efforts.

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2 Aug 2022

Infant Care Capacity Taken Up and Ways to Spread Demand to Available Places

There are over 12,000 licensed infant care places, with about 9,700 (80%) currently taken up.
The Early Childhood Development Agency plans to add 1,000 more infant care places in 2022, mainly through Anchor Operators alongside new HDB developments.
To address high demand in popular areas like Punggol, larger preschools are being developed in community premises and vacant state land to serve wider catchments.
Parents are encouraged to consider preschools in adjacent neighbourhoods, near workplaces, or close to grandparents' homes to spread demand.
The Ministry urges broader consideration of preschool options to better align demand with available capacity across different areas.

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2 Aug 2022

Passenger Traffic and Progress of Reopening of Changi Airport's Air Routes

Passenger traffic at Changi Airport recovered to about 55% of pre-pandemic levels by early July 2022, with the airport connected to 108 cities, exceeding 65% of its pre-COVID network.
Changi Airport is leading the recovery among Asia Pacific hubs in passenger traffic and city links, but global recovery is uneven, with Middle Eastern hubs already near 90% of pre-pandemic levels.
The government is focusing on expanding capacity to handle up to 70 million passengers annually, roughly 80% of pre-COVID capacity, by reopening Terminal 4 and parts of Terminal 2, while rebuilding aviation manpower.
Recovery pace depends on key Northeast Asian markets like China, Japan, and Hong Kong fully reopening their borders, making it difficult to set fixed passenger targets for 2022 and 2023.
The aviation community is working to restore Changi Airport’s operations and passenger experience to pre-pandemic standards to maintain its status as a premier global air hub.

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2 Aug 2022

Measures to Mitigate Rising Temperatures and Create More Conducive Working and Living Environments

The Ministry of National Development outlined measures such as planting nearly 90,000 trees in industrial estates under the OneMillionTrees movement, using cool paints on HDB blocks, and incorporating greenery on multi-storey carparks to reduce ambient temperatures, with plans to expand these efforts by 2030.
Agencies are conducting studies on optimal tree species for cooling, monitoring temperatures via sensors, and using environmental modelling in HDB design to enhance thermal comfort, including building orientation, wind flow optimization, and exploring double-glazed windows to minimize heat transfer.
The government adopts a holistic, inter-agency approach to climate adaptation, with cross-Ministerial coordination led by the Inter-Ministerial Committee and specific initiatives like the HDB Green Towns Programme to reduce energy consumption and improve livability, while addressing health and safety concerns for vulnerable groups.

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2 Aug 2022

Measures to Mitigate Effects of Extreme Weather Conditions

The Minister outlined a three-pronged strategy to mitigate rising temperatures, focusing on deepening scientific understanding, strengthening community resilience, and implementing heat mitigation strategies.
Research and guidelines are being updated, including the Third National Climate Study and workplace heat stress guidelines, to account for climate change impacts and protect vulnerable groups like the elderly and outdoor workers.
Measures include cooling the urban environment through planning, greenery, and cool materials, as well as reducing heat generation from human activities via energy efficiency and electrification efforts.
Individuals and businesses are encouraged to adopt energy-efficient practices to reduce heat and carbon emissions, with policies like the Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme to support this.
The government emphasized the need for community co-creation and ongoing policy rollouts to build long-term heat resilience in Singapore.

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1 Aug 2022

Sports Facilities at Proposed Housing Development cum Sports Centre Site at Farrer Park

The Minister announced that the redevelopment will replace the existing swimming complex with new sheltered and outdoor pools in a sports centre, retain and convert the boxing gym to a multi-purpose space, and add flexible indoor sports areas in the multi-storey car park along with a jogging track and a 1.2-hectare central green space for community sports.
The Minister stated that the total area for sports facilities in Farrer Park will not be reduced despite the redevelopment, with open spaces and new amenities ensuring sufficient access for residents.
The Minister emphasized that plans consider Farrer Park’s sporting heritage and community feedback, and the overall Sports Facilities Master Plan will continue to provide sufficient facilities across national and town levels, including developments at Kallang Alive! precinct.

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1 Aug 2022

Effectiveness of Noise Barriers Installed Along MRT Tracks

Melvin Yong asked about the effectiveness of noise barriers along MRT tracks, ongoing trials to reduce train noise, and any promising results.
S Iswaran stated that 21.5 km of noise barriers have been installed since 2013, reducing train noise by 5–10 dBA, with residents reporting a perceptible decrease in noise.
LTA also monitors noise levels, maintains tracks and wheels, uses ballast and concrete sleepers for noise absorption, and is fitting noise-dampening wheels on new trains like the Jurong Region Line.

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1 Aug 2022

Covered Walkways for Residents Who Live Within 800-metre Radius of MRT Stations

Lim Wee Kiak asked whether the Walk2Ride programme could be expanded to build covered walkways for residents within an 800-metre radius of all MRT stations.
The Minister for Transport, S Iswaran, stated that the covered linkway programme currently focuses on connecting commuters within a 400-metre radius of major transport nodes to key amenities in a fiscally prudent manner.
There are no plans to expand the criteria beyond the 400-metre radius, as the priority is to maximize the use of limited financial resources to benefit more commuters within the existing framework.

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1 Aug 2022

Measures to Safeguard Biodiversity and Natural Hydrology in Choa Chu Kang Waterworks Area

The Ministry outlined that PUB and NParks completed a comprehensive environmental impact assessment in 2021 and incorporated feedback from nature groups to propose mitigation measures.
To safeguard biodiversity, PUB adjusted the project footprint to preserve a freshwater stream with significant aquatic species, established a 10-metre vegetation buffer, and enhanced Earth Control Measures.
Flora of conservation significance will be salvaged, placed in a nursery for potential replanting, and wildlife shepherding will be conducted before site hoarding.
These measures will extend the project timeline and increase costs but are fully committed to by PUB to protect the environment.

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