Revamped Rochor Canal to officially open this Sunday

SINGAPORE — A revitalised stretch of the Rochor Canal featuring look-out decks, rain gardens and benches will be officially opened this Sunday (March 8) by Mayor of the Central Singapore District Denise Phua.

This 1.1 km stretch — running from Sim Lim Tower to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority Building — is the latest addition to water agency PUB’s Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC) programme which aims to transform utilitarian drains, canals and reservoirs so they resemble beautiful streams and lakes.

The S$48 million project which commenced in July 2011 is also PUB’s first ABC Waters project downtown.

At the end of the revamped canal near Ophir Road lies a community plaza which can hold up to 330 people. Two pedestrian bridges were also constructed to improve connectivity between the river and neighbouring developments.

The canal has also been widened and deepened to improve its capacity. A collection of eleven rain gardens fitted with specially-selected plants and soil media along the waterway will improve the quality of rainwater runoff.

Said PUB’s Chief Sustainability Officer Mr Tan Nguan Sen: “As Rochor Canal is one of the five waterways that flows into the Marina Reservoir, we will be working with the residents and stakeholders on how they can play and active role in taking ownership of this canal and helping to keep the waterway clean and free of litter.”

The canal can also offer learning opportunities to students and residents nearby, he added.

For instance, Stamford Primary School which is situated along the canal, has signed up as a “water adopter” and will be using the canal as an outdoor classroom and for projects.

The ABC Waters Programme was launched in April 2006 to transform Singapore’s water bodies. Over 100 potential locations have been identified over the next 20 years. To date, 27 projects have been completed, with another six — including Sungei Api Api and Siglap Canal to be officially opened by this year.