NHB doubles funding for upkeep of monuments

SINGAPORE — The National Heritage Board (NHB) has expanded the scope of maintenance work that may be funded for the upkeep of monuments from this year. 

Arborist (or tree specialist) reports to support the removal of vegetation, the removal of vegetation close to a monument to prevent damage and as a safety measure, as well as maintenance works for lightning protection will now be eligible for the Maintenance Fund under the National Monuments Fund (NMF). 

Ms Jean Wee, director by the Preservation of Sites and Monuments (PSM) division of the National Heritage Board, made the announcement on Thursday (June 8), along with announcing the NMF recipients for this 2017.  

Wee said: “To ensure that the National Monuments Fund remains relevant, our monument inspectors conduct periodic inspections of the National Monuments and regularly invites feedback from our monument owners to review the scope of the Fund. The Maintenance Fund category was expanded as a result of this, so as to further enable monument owners to implement preventive measures in more comprehensive ways.”

Trees and vegetation can affect monuments and environment, she added, for example, “when leaves get stuck in the rooftop, we have to think about how do you clear it away and make sure breeding of mosquitoes don’t take place”.

Last year, NHB, which administers the fund and supports monument owners in the upkeep and restoration of Singapore’s National Monuments, introduced the maintenance component to help monument owners conduct regular work to prevent building deterioration and prevent significant restoration costs down the road. This is on top of the existing Restoration Fund. 

“We are happy to see the good take-up by monument owners to undertake an expanded scope of works as this reflects their increased commitment and care towards preserving our built heritage in the long run,” said Wee.

This year, 17 national monuments will be recipients of a total of S$2.2 million, a decrease from the 23 monuments which received S$2.3 million in 2016. 

The recipients for 2017 include Abdul Gafoor Mosque at Dunlop Street, Chesed-El Synagogue at Oxley Rise, Church of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Upper Serangoon Road and Sri Mariamman Temple at South Bridge Road. 

According to NHB, there are 31 monuments in Singapore eligible for the fund, including Church of St Peter and St Paul, Sri Thendayuthapani Temple and Hajjah Fatimah Mosque. 

NMF was first introduced in 2008 with a pool of S$5 million dedicated to monument restoration works. In 2015, it got a boost from a second tranche of S$11.77 million, including S$2 million set aside for maintenance. 

Of the disbursement for 2017, about S$200,000 will be used to co-fund Maintenance works. This is double the amount awarded under the Maintenance Fund last year. 

The fund was initiated in 2016 to cover the costs of as termite inspections, investigations of building defects, removal of vegetation on monuments and minor repairs. 

Some of the beneficiaries of this expanded Maintenance Fund is the Chesed-El Synagogue, gazetted as a National Monument in 1998, and Abdul Gafoor Mosque gazetted in 1979. The largest beneficiary for this year is the Church of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, receiving S$900,000. 

The mosque, which received half a million, is working with conservators and specialists on maintenance works such as structural investigation of its roof and pinnacles, with the support of the Maintenance Fund.

The synagogue, described by renowned physicist Albert Einstein as “magnificent” during his visit to Singapore back in 1922, will receive close to S$400,000 from NMF for both its maintenance and restoration. 

The monument will be conducting assessment studies of nearby overhanging vegetation that is posing a risk, in addition to other restoration works such as upcoming structural enhancements to its front canopies, complete with ornate floral plasterwork and cornices.