Mr Quek See Tiat, Chairman, BCA

Dr John Keung, CEO, BCA,

Distingushed guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

World-Class Built Environment

1 Tonight's dinner is a time for all stakeholders in the construction industry not only to celebrate the industry's achievements but also to reaffirm our commitment to the goal of making Singapore's built environment one of the best in the world.


2 The construction industry is one of the key pillars of our economy. Last year, the sector put up a sterling performance, achieving a double-digit growth of 20% year-on-year. But the robust growth which is expected to continue this year and the next, has exerted pressure on our construction resources and caused prices to shoot up. The Government is monitoring the situation closely and has implemented measures to mitigate the situation. We have eased rules on the employment of foreign professional personnel, technical staff and workers in the construction industry. We are working with the industry to expand our contracting resources. We have deferred some $3 billion worth of public sector projects. Public agencies are now considering more projects for deferment.


3 The rising costs have made it even more challenging for us to work together towards our vision of delivering a built environment that is sustainable, of high quality, and constructed safely. Tonight, I would like to focus on these three key issues of sustainability, quality and safety in my speech.


Sustainability - Enhancing the Green Mark Scheme

4 A key aspect of sustainability in the built environment is resource efficiency, especially that of energy, given that high fuel prices are likely to stay. A focus on energy efficiency will reduce costs, enhance our competitiveness in a resource-constrained world, and be environmentally friendly. To encourage the development of energy efficient and environmentally friendly buildings, BCA introduced the Green Mark scheme in 2005. I am happy to note that the Green Mark scheme has been well accepted by the industry and is now a recognised achievement. With the green building movement in Singapore gathering momentum, it is timely for us to enhance the scheme, as well as apply the Green Mark concept to the wider physical environment. Let me elaborate.


5 Revisions to Green Mark Incentive Scheme. In Dec 2006, BCA launched a $20 million Green Mark Incentive Scheme to spur developers to achieve the higher levels of the Green Mark award. To date, 17 projects receiving some $2.6 million in incentives have benefited from it. Taking into consideration feedback from the industry, we are refining the Incentive Scheme to make it more attractive.


6 First, to recognise the important role played by key industry stakeholders such as architects and M&E engineers in driving the green building movement, BCA will extend the incentive payouts to these stakeholders.


7 Second, to encourage more buildings to go green, the Incentive Scheme will now apply to smaller buildings. The minimum GFA eligibility will be reduced from 5,000 square metres to 2,000 square metres.


8 Green Mark Champion Award for Developers. For the green building movement to grow in strength, we also need to have strong support and commitment from the developers. I am heartened that some developers are already embracing environmental sustainability and resource efficiency as part of their corporate social responsibility. Such firms deserve to be recognised.


9 This evening, I am pleased to present BCA's inaugural Green Mark Champion Award for Developers. This award recognises developers who achieve a substantial number of Green Mark buildings at the Gold level and higher. The winner this year has 20 such projects, of which 5 achieved the highest Green Mark Platinum level. I congratulate City Developments Limited for achieving this honour and winning the inaugural award.


10 Green Mark for Parks. Other than buildings, the Green Mark concept of promoting and recognising sustainable practices and features can also be applied to the wider physical environment. In this regard, BCA and NParks have collaborated to develop a Green Mark for Parks scheme.


11 It may appear strange to have such a scheme because parks are supposed to be green. However, the scheme focuses on having our parks developed and maintained in a sustainable way. It systematically looks at the resource management, quality and environmental friendliness of our parks. Three of our parks will be receiving their Green Mark awards this evening.


12 I hope that the industry will respond enthusiastically to these enhancements to the Green Mark scheme.


Quality - High Standards

13 We also need our built environment to be one that is synonymous with quality, thus helping to distinguish Singapore from other cities. To deliver high quality projects, the industry has to continually challenge itself to raise the standard of project management, emphasise innovative designs and safe construction processes, and take pride in providing quality finishes.


14 Both the CONQUAS scheme and the Quality Mark scheme have become de facto yardsticks to benchmark and assess the quality of our construction and buildings. Going forward, the CONQUAS and Quality Mark schemes will become even more relevant as discerning consumers demand for high quality apartments and offices. I urge industry stakeholders to set for themselves, ambitious quality targets that will not only delight their clients, but also help to raise the credibility and branding of our built environment.


15 To support this effort, it is crucial that the professional and technical personnel are adequately trained on quality management. I have therefore asked BCA to step up its training effort. Over the next 3 years, BCA aims to train some 600 personnel to qualify them as CONQUAS/Quality Mark specialists and managers. I strongly encourage the industry to participate in this professional development effort actively and make quality excellence a part of your corporate philosophy.


Not Forgetting Construction Safety

16 In our pursuit to develop buildings and infrastructure that are sustainable and of high quality, let us constantly bear in mind the need to do so in a safe manner. With the increase in construction activities in the current boom, it is even more important to uphold and maintain high safety standards.


17 To recognise firms that have distinguished themselves in this aspect, BCA has launched the inaugural "Design and Engineering Safety Excellence Award". I would like to commend the winners for their dedication and passion in the area of construction safety.


Conclusion

18 We are working hard to grow Singapore into a lively and yet liveable global city - a city that is distinctive in its ability to offer a unique combination of economic opportunity, vibrant lifestyle and quality environment for a cosmopolitan population. The construction industry can contribute towards this vision by emphasising sustainability, quality, safety in the built environment. Let us work closely together to achieve this.


19 Let me congratulate all the recipients of the BCA Awards this evening. I wish you all continued success.


20 Thank you.

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