Things move fast in MND, and here is a round up of some of the other significant developments in the past month.
Getting to Know Your Town Council
After months of public consultation, the Government has come up with the Town Council Management Report (TCMR) framework to grade the performance of Singapore's 16 town councils. The six items on the list cover four areas - cleanliness, estate maintenance, lift maintenance, and financial management. HDB inspection officers will place town councils in five different banded levels after assessment. Mr Cedric Foo, the Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for National Development and Environment described the report card as a good first step for making town councils more accountable.
Facelift for 13 Estates - Shape Your Neighourhood @ Tampines N9
The National Development Ministry has announced its largest batch of housing estate upgrading works to date. It will spend $86.1m to upgrade 13 neighbourhoods, benefiting about 23,000 households. National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said, "The government is committed to spend money to rejuvenate your estate, to remake your estate, to make your estate more valuable. Because this is the biggest asset that Singaporeans have - their home." In concert, Minister Mah launched the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) process for Tampines Ave 5/St 91 at East View Primary School on 4 September 2009. In a first for Singapore, the NRP process at Tampines is designed to be consultative and engaging. With ‘Shape Your Neighbourhood @ Tampines N9’ residents are encouraged to view the exhibits by the three architectural firms, interact with the architects and provide feedback on their designs.
Cooling Measures for the Property Market
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan announced a package of cooling measures to rein in the fast-rising property market in Parliament on 14 September 2009. These measures included the reinstatement of the Confirmed List for the 1st Half 2010 Government Land Sales Programme, the removal of the Interest Absorption Scheme (IAS) and the Interest Only Housing Loans (IOL) with effect from 14 September 2009; and the non-extension of the Jan 2009 Budget assistance measures for the property market when they expire. Analysts interviewed by the local media commented that the measures should serve to curb speculation.
A Greener Singapore
Well-ventilated homes without the need for air conditioning. City living amid lush and sky-rise greenery. And public spaces with cafes and more facilities. This could be the future of Singapore, as the Government embarks on research studies into sustainable development with the National University of Singapore (NUS). With URA as the lead agency, the other organisations involved are the Housing and Development Board, the Land Transport Authority, and the National Parks Board. The three-year, $7 million study aims to develop solutions to build a sustainable living environment in Singapore and will fund seven research projects, which include the study of urban greenery, public spaces and different housing types to maximise land use. The findings will also be used to plan the upcoming projects around Marina Bay.
Teeing off for Charity
The MNDRC Charity Golf 2009 was held on 16 September 2009 at the Laguna Country Club, with Minister for National Development, Mr Mah Bow Tan, as the Guest of Honour. The event was well-received and enthusiastic participants contributed a generous sum of $218,950. After an exciting round of golf, Minister Mah presented mock cheques to representatives from The President’s Challenge 2009 and the Community Chest.
