Dr John Keung, CEO BCA,

Distinguished guests,

Good morning.

Introduction

1 The real estate and construction sector plays an integral role in the economic and social development of Singapore. It is imperative for the sector to continually upgrade and innovate itself even as we ride the ongoing construction demand growth.

Why Sustainable Construction?

2 Today, I will focus on the need for the industry to embrace sustainable construction. Sustainable construction involves the use of recycled materials or materials that are readily available from many sources. The disruption in the supply of concreting sand and granite from Indonesia is a wake-up call for the industry to switch to sustainable construction as much as possible, and as soon as we can.

3 The Government has been working closely with the private sector to deal with the sudden disruption. As an immediate response, the Government has released sand and granite from the national stockpiles to meet the industry’s needs as well as to help the industry in procuring from alternative sources.

4 Shipments of materials have been arriving from new supply sources. For granite especially, there are many readily available alternative sources with competitive prices. BCA has told me that there is scope to reduce the stockpile release price for granite from May onwards. BCA is working out the details and will inform the industry in due course. With this reduction, we expect concrete prices, which have been declining since the initial supply disruption, to come down further.

5 The Government has also committed to co-share up to 75% of the increase in prices of sand and granite for on-going public sector projects. We urge the private developers to likewise work out cost-sharing arrangements so as to minimise unnecessary delay to their construction schedule. In this regard, we are pleased that REDAS is fully supportive of the co-sharing approach.

Strategies and Initiatives for Sustainable Construction

6 For the longer term, the industry must adopt sustainable construction in a comprehensive manner to reduce its vulnerability to disruptions in supply of essential materials. To steer the industry in this direction, BCA will implement a Sustainable Construction Master Plan.

7 BCA is working on three key thrusts. First, it is promoting the use of non-concrete alternatives. Second, it is exploring suitable substitutes of sand and granite in the production of concrete. Third, it will continue to work with the industry to diversify the supply sources of essential construction materials.

8 In line with these thrusts, BCA will introduce a number of initiatives. Let me elaborate.

Facilitating Projects Switching to Alternative Materials

9 To ease the adoption of sustainable construction for existing projects, BCA is working with relevant agencies such as URA and the Fire Safety and Shelter Department (FSSD), to accord priority and flexibility when processing amendment plans for on-going projects that are switching to sustainable designs and materials.

Review of Regulatory Requirements

10 Next, BCA plans to impose requirements on a minimum level of sustainable construction. BCA is also working with the industry and the relevant agencies to review existing rules and regulations to smoothen the adoption of sustainable construction. For example, to widen our supply sources for steel, BCA is reviewing the standards for manufactured steel. Our standards are currently based on British specifications while some countries have adopted other standards. This review is being done on the basis that building safety will not be compromised. Over the next few months, BCA will be consulting the industry on the proposed mandatory requirements.

Government Agencies Taking the Lead

11 BCA is also working with relevant public agencies, including HDB and LTA, to take the lead in showcasing sustainable construction for building and infrastructure projects. For example, HDB has used steel and metal claddings to replace concrete in the construction of lift shafts for its Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP), while LTA is looking at wider use of recycled concrete waste for road construction to reduce the need for granite aggregates.

Public Education on Sustainable Construction

12 However, the above measures alone are not sufficient. The drive towards sustainable construction is achievable only if all stakeholders recognise and appreciate its importance. All industry players, including developers, designers, builders and suppliers, must make a concerted effort to adopt sustainable construction in their building projects.

13 We also have to raise the awareness among the general public and consumers on the need for and benefits of sustainable construction. This will help to gain greater acceptance of alternative building materials, such as dry-wall partitions in residential projects, in place of concrete walls. Ultimately, it is consumers’ demand that will drive the adoption of sustainable products and technologies.

14 Towards this end, BCA is embarking on a "Sustainable Construction” Campaign to educate the public and industry on the importance and benefits of sustainable construction. This will include seminars and conferences targeted at the industry, as well as a three-week public exhibition here, at the URA Centre till 11 May. I am also glad to note that BCA has published an educational book entitled “Sustainable Construction - Materials for Buildings” as part of this effort.

Conclusion

15 In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that the adoption of sustainable construction has taken on greater importance and urgency. With the concerted efforts of all industry stakeholders, I am confident that we can make a virtue out of this necessity. We can then make sustainable construction a hallmark of our real estate and construction industry and a distinctive characteristic of our built environment.

16 It is now my great pleasure to declare the Sustainable Construction campaign and exhibition open.

17 Thank you.

>>back to top