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MINSTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: ADDENDUM TO THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS - MEDIA FACTSHEET - 13 JAN 05

AN EXCITING, ATTRACTIVE AND MODERN METROPOLIS

1. Downtown at Marina Bay

Downtown at Marina Bay will be a key focus of our development efforts. To underline the government’s commitment to making Downtown at Marina Bay a success, we have set aside $300 million to put in key infrastructure and facilities at the Bay area. URA has also been appointed as the Development Agency for the area. In addition to its current responsibilities as master planner, URA will spearhead developments of the Downtown at Marina Bay. They will also promote the area through events and market the area to developers and investors from around the world. URA has also initiated a consultancy for the design of the waterfront promenade and the connecting bridge to Marina Centre. When completed in 2008, these developments will create a continuous loop around the entire Marina Bay.

2. Rejuvenation of Orchard Road

The rejuvenation of Orchard Road will ensure it retains its status as a premier shopping district. To facilitate this, a multi-agency taskforce was set up and MND/URA, as a member, had met up with the community to seek their feedback and ideas on plans for Orchard Rd. Two new sites at Orchard Road/Paterson Road and Orchard Road/Killiney Road junctions will be placed on the Reserve List in 1H2005. Both sites are envisaged to inject new retail concepts to further enhance it as a premier shopping destination. The Orchard Road/Paterson site will provide a new commercial development that will be integrated with the Orchard MRT station to provide a seamless shopping experience for shoppers. In addition, a new public event space will be provided at this strategic location to hold large scale events. There will also be two sites released for shorter-term development of lifestyle establishments to add to the retail diversity and vibrancy of Orchard Road. URA is also reviewing planning and development guidelines for existing developments in the area to encourage property owners to upgrade and enhance their properties. These measures will be announced later.

3. Promotion of Architecture & Urban Design Excellence

MND/URA will promote architectural and urban design excellence. URA has embarked on a series of initiatives to promote architecture and urban design excellence through exhibitions, talks and publications. URA will contribute $3 million to kick-start a programme to co-sponsor design promotion activities with the private sector. Other measures to encourage design excellence in A&UD will be initiated.

A HIGH QUALITY LIVING ENVIRONMENT

4. Second Botanic Gardens

MND/NParks intends to develop a Second Botanic Gardens in the New Downtown at Marina Bay. The existing Botanic Gardens will focus on botanical collections and research. The Second Botanic Gardens will focus on mass floral displays and creative plant-based edutainment. It will also feature an iconic conservatory of cool tropical as well as temperate plants. This Second Botanic Gardens will serve as a green lung for those who will live, work and play in the new Downtown. It will be an anchor attraction of the Downtown and strengthen Singapore's Garden City image.

5. Singapore Tropical Garden Show

NParks is also planning to stage a Singapore Tropical Garden Show at the site of the second botanical gardens. Planned as a biennial event, this is envisioned as a premier tropical horticultural show, which will comprise international floral and landscape displays, as well as horticultural and gardening trade exhibits.

6. Community Ownership of Garden City

We have built a Garden City, with lush greenery everywhere. However, the Garden City cannot be sustained on the efforts of the Government alone. Our people must appreciate the greenery and support it. NParks will reach out to Singaporeans and promote "community gardening". Residents of private estates will be encouraged and guided in planting in their neighborhood gardens and in the planting verges along the roads in the estates. A pilot project in Mayfair Estate was favourably received by residents. MND will open up more estates for "community gardening", including looking into the feasibility of extending the project to public housing estates. We will also encourage schools, corporate entities and gardening societies to adopt and help maintain public parks and gardens.

7. Food Safety & Supply

Singapore relies heavily on imports for its supply of food. Our food safety and public health are thus constantly challenged by pathogens such as the Avian Influenza and Mad Cow Disease, which occur globally. The disruptions to our supply of poultry and eggs following the Avian Flu outbreaks in Kelantan are a reminder of our vulnerability.

Strengthening our Food Safety

AVA will strengthen its food safety management system for both locally produced and imported food. This will minimise entry of hazards into our food supply chain. The new Veterinary Public Health Centre, and Animal and Plant Health Centre will enhance AVA's capabilities to deal with emerging food-borne hazards and hazardous pathogens. AVA will harness modern technologies to further improve the speed and sensitivity of its inspections and laboratory analyses.

Enhancing our Food Supply Resilience

To ensure a resilient food supply, AVA will approve and accredit more new food sources which meet our high hygiene, food safety and animal health standards. In addition, AVA will work with the Food Business Clusters, comprising major traders, to seek out new sources and devise food-sourcing strategies. This will allow the market to respond quickly to sudden shortfalls in supply due to diseases or bans.

AFFORDABLE QUALITY PUBLIC HOUSING

8. Lift Upgrading Programme

The Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) was implemented in 2001 in response to requests for earlier lift upgrading works in HDB estates to provide greater convenience to residents, especially the elderly. Under the current LUP, HDB upgrades existing lifts and installs new lifts and lift shafts, so that every storey is served and 100% lift accessibility is achieved. In view of our rapidly ageing population, MND will step up the pace of lift upgrading in HDB estates so that more flat lessees can benefit from lift upgrading earlier.

9. Relaxation of Rules

Over the years, MND has liberalised our rules and regulations to give HDB lessees greater choice in the use of their flats, and allow them to be more entrepreneurial. These include the bank origination of HDB market rate loans, allowing the use of HDB flats as home offices, and freeing up the restrictions governing the subletting of HDB flats. We will continue to review our rules and regulations to ensure that they remain current and relevant.

10. Private Sector Participation

MND has earlier announced that it is studying ways to open up will gradually liberalise the public housing market to promote greater private sector participation in the design and development of public housing. The outcome of this study will have a significant impact on the nature of public housing in the years to come. We expect to conclude the study soon. With greater private sector participation, Singaporeans can look forward to more choices and greater variety in public housing.

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Last updated on 18 May 2006