One-stop govt service centre for residents in eastern Singapore

SINGAPORE — Singaporeans living and working in the east who need help from multiple government agencies can now get their needs addressed at a new centre that offers a full suite of services from six government bodies. 

Located at the new Our Tampines Hub, the six are the Housing and Development Board, Workforce Singapore, Ministry of Social and Family Development, North East Community Development Council, ActiveSG and People’s Association.

And it is possible that this concept could be replicated elsewhere in Singapore, Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli, who officiated the opening of Phase 1 of Our Tampines Hub, told reporters on Sunday (Nov 27).

Called the Public Service Centre, the aim is to reduce instances of residents being referred from one agency to another, without the proper follow-up.

For example, a resident seeking jobs and skill-upgrading could also speak to officers from the relevant agencies about help for their housing bills or their child’s tuition. 

Residents making their payments to the respective agencies or booking sports and community facilities can also do so at the centre’s 24-hour e-Lobby.

“I think that as we get used to the system, it’s something that we can replicate around Singapore,” said Mr Masagos, who is also a Member of Parliament and Tampines grassroots organisations adviser.

More government agencies could be included in the centre in future, he said. “We want to incorporate as many agencies as possible. But it has to be volume-related. If it’s a once-in-a-while thing, you can always use your e-service.”

With the consolidation of the agencies’ services under one roof, the HDB Branch Office at Blk 510 Tampines Central 1 has closed, as have the branch offices of the other five government bodies in the vicinity.

Our Tampines Hub, located where Tampines Stadium used to be, is the size of seven football fields.It includes a shopping centre featuring 100 stores, a 24-hour supermarket, 20 indoor badminton courts, an 800-seat hawker centre, a community health centre operated by Eastern Health Alliance, a childcare centre with 180 vacancies and a HomeTeamNS Clubhouse, which will introduce a laser tag arena and a rock climbing facility.

The hawker centre boasts new technology such as robotic cleaners and has a system that gives diners reward points on their Kopitiam or K-Pay cards if they return their trays.

By next month, it will also enable payments via smartphones, using near-field communications technology.

The entire complex will be completed by June. There will be a 180,000-sqf regional library, a 400-seat performing arts auditorium and digital theatre, six roof-top swimming pools, a 24-hour gym, a 30-lane bowling centre, indoor playgrounds for children and a 1,800-seat indoor sports hall.

There will also be a 5,000-seat stadium with a Fifa two-star football pitch — the new home of Tampines Rovers Football Club.

The cost of building the multipurpose facility, first mooted in 2011, was not disclosed.

The hub has innovative features such as a closed-loop food waste management system, where waste generated by the supermarket and restaurants will be converted to organic fertiliser and non-potable water to support the gardens in the premises, or distributed to residents.  

The hub also has a programme to promote gracious living in Tampines, with messages like “Don’t chope seats”, “Eat from the tray” and “Return the tray” displayed on wall murals, tables and television screens at the hawker centre while kindness ambassadors encourage patrons to heed the rules.