Siglap Canal to undergo makeover

SINGAPORE – A community deck to improve accessibility, additional seating spaces and greenery, as well as a rain garden to improve water quality. These are some of the enhancements residents can look forward to when the 3.2km Siglap Canal undergoes a makeover under the PUB’s Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Programme.

At a 150-metre section next to the Kampong Kembangan Community Club, PUB will deck over the canal to improve residents’ access to the community club. ABC Waters design features such as a rain garden will also be added to treat stormwater runoff before it is discharged into the waterway, improving water quality in the canal while beautifying the surrounding landscape and enhancing biodiversity.

Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin and Adviser for Marine Parade GRC officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony for the project this evening (Oct 19).

PUB is also partnering Telok Kurau Primary School to introduce ABC Waters design features like a rain garden and a roof garden, as well as a detention tank within the school compound.

Both projects will be completed by end 2015.

Mr Tan Nguan Sen, PUB’s Director of Catchment and Waterways, sai: “Through the projects at Kampong Kembangan Community Club and Telok Kurau Primary School, we hope to enhance the quality of the living environment, promote community bonding and bring residents and students closer to the waters so that they can better appreciate and cherish this resource.”

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. As of last month, 22 projects have been completed, with an additional 21 ABC Waters certified projects completed by other public agencies and private developers. At least 20 projects will commence in the next five years.