Members of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC –

Mr Charles Chong and Ms Penny Low,

Grassroots leaders,

Residents,

Ladies and gentlemen

1.   In August last year, at the National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee unveiled plans to transform new, middle-aged and old HDB estates. This is part of Government’s overall strategy of “Remaking Our Heartland”. Punggol New Town will be one of the first estates to undergo this transformation.

2.   Why are we doing this? The short answer is “Singapore Our Best Home”. Singapore Our Best Home is not just about Marina Bay or Orchard Road. It is also very much about the HDB Heartland of tomorrow – an endearing and vibrant home for Singaporeans. To do so, our heartland must not only remain clean and well-maintained. It must also keep pace with Singaporeans’ rising expectations and lifestyle changes.

3.   I remember the audience went “Wow” when the plans for Punggol 21 Plus were shown during the rally. The response was clearly positive. But we wanted to make sure that we were on the right track. I asked HDB to find out from our people their ideas and aspirations for HDB living, so that we can take them into account when carrying out the transformation.

4.   Following the rally, HDB held a series of Remaking Our Heartland exhibitions. These were held in many locations island-wide to reach out to as many Singaporeans as possible. Senior Minister of State Grace Fu also chaired a special dialogue session on this. The exhibitions generated a lot of public interest and excitement. More than 110,000 people visited the exhibitions and more than 11,000 participated in the written survey. Over 80 percent of those who responded said they looked forward with great eagerness to see the plans materialise.

A Waterfront Town of the 21st Century

5.   It has been about six months since the exhibition was held on this very site. In that short span of time, the plans for Punggol as “A Waterfront Town of the 21st Century” have quickly taken shape.

6.   Let me bring you through the key proposals, namely new housing developments, the waterway, the Punggol Town Centre, and the recreational coastline.

Shaping Punggol

7.   To build a vibrant town, we need a critical mass of residents. This will allow a comprehensive array of businesses and government services to serve the residents. As the town continues to grow, the provision of more commercial and public facilities becomes feasible. HDB has therefore stepped up the pace to provide more homes in Punggol. About 16,700 flats have already been built in Punggol, with another 2,100 under construction. In addition, HDB has recently launched 1,700 flats, and will launch another 4,000 new homes in Punggol later this year for sale under the Build-To-Order sale exercises.

New Waterway

8.   Water has always played a prominent role in Punggol’s past. Kampong Punggol, which was believed to have existed some 200 years ago near the Punggol Jetty, was predominantly a fishing village. Some of you may also recall the days when Punggol attracted Singaporeans from all over, looking for good seafood.

9.   Therefore water will play a vital role in Punggol’s future. With the new waterway, we will bring water through the heart of Punggol and to residents’ doorsteps.

10.   HDB has been working with different agencies to plan and design the waterway. The technical studies for the waterway have been completed. HDB is now studying how to incorporate eco-friendly features and how to make the waterway safe and vibrant for the various recreational activities. Physical works will begin in 2009.

11.   HDB plans to launch the first public housing site along the waterway in the next two to three years, after major works of the waterway are completed. Some land will also be set aside for private housing.

Punggol Town Centre

12.   The town centre is a focal point for life within a HDB town. Residents want a vibrant town centre where they can do their shopping, have their meals, enjoy entertainment and leisure activities, and meet up with friends. I am therefore pleased to announce today that HDB plans to launch the first sale site at the Town Centre for a mixed commercial and private residential development by 2010/2011. This shopping mall will be comparable in size to Junction 8 in Bishan. It will be the first waterfront site at the town centre to be launched in Punggol. Besides shopping and entertainment, residents can look forward to alfresco dinning next to the waterway¹, amongst others.

13.   To capitalize on the extensive water frontage in Punggol, we will also develop recreational and sports facilities along the coastline at the northern boundary of the town. Works will soon start on the coastal promenade. The development of the Rustic Park at Coney Island will start next year. When completed, residents can look forward to leisure sports such as running, walking, cycling at the coastal promenade, and adventure and beach activities at Coney Island.

Green Living by the Waters

14.   Punggol is also the setting for HDB’s landmark residential development to support sustainable development. The Treelodge@Punggol, launched for sale in March last year is HDB’s first new generation “green” project. The project incorporates HDB’s proven green technologies and innovations that it has developed over the years. As a continuation of this pilot project, HDB will incorporate practical, environmentally sustainable features in the new housing developments along the waterway.

Punggol Waterway Landscape Masterplan Design Competition

15.   The waterway will mark a milestone in Singapore’s public housing programme for a new generation of public housing. Apart from feedback of the public, we would also like to invite the private sector to give their views. Therefore, we are launching the Punggol Waterway Landscape Masterplan Design Competition for Professionals together with this exhibition. We want the best landscape masterplan design for the waterway – one that will integrate the different elements of live, play and enjoy along the new waterway. It must be a design that excites public imagination as well as meets the aspirations and expectations of current and future Punggol residents.

16.   In the second half of this year, we will be holding a Waterfront Housing Design Competition. This will help us to develop more concrete plans for the new generation of public housing along the waterway.

Let’s Hear From You – “Call For Ideas” Exercise

17.   The journey to remake our heartland is one that we must undertake together. That is why we would like to continue to hear from Singaporeans especially Punggol residents, and involve them in the implementation of the Punggol plans. Under its “Call for Ideas” exercise that HDB is launching with this exhibition, HDB will seek feedback on the lifestyle along the waterway that Singaporeans will like. We want to know what type of waterfront housing Singaporeans aspire to live in and what facilities and amenities you want to enjoy along the waterway promenade. Good and feasible ideas will be showcased by HDB and incorporated into the design brief for the Waterfront Housing Design Competition.

Conclusion

18.   In conclusion, I would like to thank the public for the strong support and feedback on the plans for Punggol so far. We have embarked on a new and exciting journey in the remaking of Punggol. I hope everyone, and especially the residents of Punggol, will participate actively in sharing your ideas with us to realize the vision for this town. Together, we can transform Punggol into a Waterfront Town of the 21st Century.

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