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Investing
for the Future
1. My Minister has informed the House on how we have
comprehensively and systematically planned for our long-term
land-use needs. This includes investment plan to sustain
and upgrade the quality of our living environment so
that Singapore remains a home of choice for our people.
New-Generation
Public Housing
2.
With some of our flats reaching 40 to 50 years old in
the coming years, it is timely for us to carry out total
redevelopment of some of our HDB heartlands.
The transformation of our older estates to a new generation
of housing estates will raise HDB living to new heights.
Given the scale and scope of such a programme, it is
estimated to cost the Government about $1 billion a
year when the programme is in full swing.
3. In this new generation estate, not
only will we adopt ideas on sustainable development,
we will incorporate features that enhance our living
experience. We will do so without compromising our commitment
to maintain affordable public housing.
4. This will not be just a HDB initiative.
It will incorporate ideas, technologies and concepts
from agencies such as Urban Redevelopment Authority
(URA), Public Utilities Board (PUB), National Parks
Board (NParks), Land Transport Authority (LTA), National
Environment Agency (NEA) etc. Construction of this new-generation
public housing estate in the Dawson area of Queenstown
is expected to commence within the next three to four
years.
5.
Let me give you a glimpse of what this new-generation
HDB living would be like:
| a.
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To
begin, you will live in a park-like environment.
We call this “Housing in a Park”, which
mirrors our vision for Singapore as a “City
in a Garden”. Looking out from your window,
you will see lush greenery and landscaping, including
sky gardens in neighbouring blocks. Depending on
where you live, you may also enjoy water features,
play areas and water sensitive urban designs. |
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| b. |
Car
parks will be built beneath the blocks so that more
greenery and open spaces are available at ground
level. With the car park podiums integrated with
the blocks, you can walk to your cars sheltered
from the elements of the weather. In addition, the
estate will be integrated with transportation nodes
such that there is accessibility to buses or trains. |
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| c. |
You will also find it easy to move around your estate
using integrated covered linkways in a barrier-free
environment. |
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| d. |
Your flat will adopt universal design, which enable
residents to age-in-place. There will be environmentally
friendly features to save water and energy, whilst
providing residents with a comfortable living environment.
Recycling will be very convenient with centralised
chutes. |
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| e.
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Your
regenerated estate will also retain some of its
heritage and identity that is associated with the
area. |
6.
One final point is this - the new generation of HDB
estates will be built to encourage greater community
participation and ownership. For example, you and your
neighbours may collectively decide on what communal
facilities to have. More spaces for interaction will
also be provided to encourage social integration.
7. The agencies are currently working
together on the feasibility of the new ideas. HDB will
launch a public exhibition later this year to showcase
the new concepts and invite public feedback.
Importance
of Continued Upgrading and Maintenance
8.
Besides the new heartland regeneration programme, the
Government remains committed to upgrading and maintaining
our existing HDB estates so that they meet the needs
of the residents, especially the elderly among us.
Lift
Upgrading Programme
9. Let me now update Members on the progress of the
Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP). The Government has committed
to provide lifts stopping on every floor for eligible
blocks by 2014.
10. We have made good progress. As at
January this year, we have selected around 3,000 blocks
for lift upgrading. This is more than half of the 5,300
blocks currently eligible for lift upgrading. We will
maintain this pace so that all eligible blocks will
have their lifts stop on every floor by 2014.
11. The Member asked about the number
of blocks that are not eligible for lift upgrading.
My Ministry had set a cost cap of $30,000 per benefitting
unit as eligibility criterion for LUP. The purpose of
the cost cap is to maximise the LUP budget and to allow
as many residents to benefit from the programme as possible.
The cost cap is necessary because the cost of lift upgrading
can be very expensive, and it does not make sense to
provide lift upgrading at any cost.
12. At the present juncture, there are
about 200 blocks whose LUP costs exceed the cost cap.
HDB will look at new technology and methods to bring
down the costs so that more blocks can have their lifts
upgraded.
13. HDB has made significant progress
in finding new solutions. Indeed, in February last year,
HDB introduced the use of machine-roomless lifts, lighter
materials for lift shafts and new bulk procurement methods
to bring down lift upgrading costs. This allowed 250
blocks that previously exceeded the cost cap to qualify
for LUP.
14. In November last year, we announced
other new lift solutions (such as shaftless lifts, smaller
lifts suitable for low-rise blocks, and reconfigured
lift access for blocks with internal voids), which allowed
another 520 blocks to qualify for LUP. With these lift
solutions, 96% of HDB blocks without full lift access
are eligible for LUP. HDB will continue to pursue cost
effective solutions.
15. The Member suggested costing the
blocks in the precinct on a shared basis so that the
costs of the more expensive blocks can be shared with
the cheaper blocks. While the intent of this approach
may be good, it would not be fair.
16. Certain block configurations, such
as segmented blocks where a new lift shaft needs to
be built that would benefit only two units per floor,
are much more expensive to upgrade compared to a typical
common-corridor type block. The difference can be as
large as two to three times more. It would not be fair
for the residents of standard blocks to cross-subsidise
the costs of lift upgrading of the segmented blocks.
17. We are upgrading our lifts as quickly
as we can. Our original target was to complete lift
upgrading by 2019 and this was just for high-rise blocks.
We have brought the target for completion forward to
2014 and included another 800 low-rise blocks to the
number. We have correspondingly increased the budget
to cater to the accelerated pace of lift upgrading,
from $410 million for FY2004 precincts to $630 million
for FY2006 precincts. Taking into account the capacity
of the industry and the funding involved, I believe
that 2014 is a realistic target.
18. The Member has asked about the progress
of lift upgrading in Potong Pasir. This issue has been
discussed quite extensively in the House. I believe
that Mr Chiam See Tong would be better able to answer
that question at another time.
Other
Upgrading Programmes
19. The Member asked about Town Councils’ maintenance
of estates so that they do not degenerate into slums.
My Ministry shares the Member’s concern. It is
for this reason that we have required Town Councils
to build up their sinking funds over the years for the
essential cyclical maintenance of their estates. These
works include the replacement of roofing systems, water
tanks and electrical systems, and repainting of blocks.
HDB has issued guidelines to Town Councils for the recommended
cyclical replacement schedule for these items.
20. Member asked for a nationwide programme
to address such problems. There are arrangements to
provide such repairs, albeit on a request basis. Nevertheless,
the Ministry of National Development (MND) is studying
the feasibility of a more structured and systematic
programme as suggested.
Conclusion
21. In conclusion, we have a vision to bring public
housing to new heights in Singapore, thus providing
a first class living environment for the 80% of Singaporeans
who live in HDB estates. By making our HDB heartlands
distinctive, attractive and comfortable, we can make
Singapore a great place to live, work and play, and
the best home for every Singaporean.
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