Missed out on other MND news over the past month? Here’s a sampling of some of the more significant developments.
First public housing project in Tianjin Eco-city
The first public housing project in the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city broke ground on 15 October 2009. It will provide 570 environmentally friendly homes for low-income residents, drawing on Singapore's experience in building, maintaining and upgrading public housing estates. The project would be one where economic activities and the community could interact in a harmonious relationship, said Senior Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu, who officiated at the ceremony. While there are other green cities across China, the Tianjin one was daring to be different by emphasising public housing innovations that could promote social harmony with partial subsidies by the Chinese government, she added.
Public Consultation for Real Estate Regulatory Framework Commences
The Ministry of National Development has launched a public consultation exercise to garner feedback on the proposed elements for the new real estate regulatory framework, which aims to safeguard consumers’ interests and enhance the professionalism of the industry. This follows an increase in the number of complaints against rogue agents, after decades of industry self-regulation. Other than a special tribunal specialising in resolving disputes over residential real estate transactions, the Government is also considering other measures such as accrediting all agents, setting up a public central registry listing all accredited agents, and instituting a common entrance examinations for agents. The consultation exercise will end on 17 November 2009, and more details on the proposals can be found here.
Transforming Singapore into a green building hub
To position itself at the forefront of the field of "green" construction practices and technologies, a Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) has been established, and will look to promoting sustainable construction methods, and driving efforts to green at least 80 percent of buildings here by 2030. The Council has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Environment Programme to promote best building practices across Asia. Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan is the founding patron of SGBC, whose first task is to set up a directory of green products for the building industry online and a certification system in the next 12 months.
Official Launch of Western Adventure Park Connector Network
Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Manpower and MP for Choa Chu Kang, officially launched the Western Adventure PCN last Sunday. He was accompanied by National Parks’ senior management and fellow MPs Dr Amy Khor, Mr Ang Mong Seng and Mr Alvin Yeo, as they brisk-walked a 1.8km stretch along the Pang Sua Park Connector together with 1,000 residents. This 23km Park Connector Network is the second loop of park connectors completed by NParks. It joins eight parks in western Singapore, such as Choa Chu Kang Park, Zhenghua Park, Dairy Farm Nature Park and Bukit Batok Town Park. It offers a diverse range of recreational experiences for all types of users, from adventure-seekers to nature lovers and families, and is also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, a result of the 550 species of butterfly and birds-attracting trees which have been planted at various stretches along the PCN.
URA Architectural Heritage Awards
Eight conserved buildings have been singled out for the prestigious URA Architectural Heritage Awards. Senior Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu announced the winners at the People's Association Headquarters on 6 October. The PA is among the recipients of the annual award for conservation, and other winners include an 18-storey Art Deco office block built in 1955, now a 20-storey hotel of serviced apartment suites, and a two-storey Edwardian Baroque-inspired bungalow from the 1900s, now a church with a new five-storey extension.