6 August 2010

Mr Mah Bow TanMinister for National Development

CONCEPT PLAN REVIEW 2011FINAL REPORT OF FOCUS GROUP ON SUSTAINABILITY AND IDENTITY

1 In January this year, you appointed us to co-chair the Focus Group on Sustainability and Identity to discuss how Singapore can continue to grow in a sustainable manner, and to identify ways to strengthen residents’ sense of belonging to Singapore as an endearing home.

2 Our Focus Group has completed our work, and we are pleased to submit our final report for your consideration. This report was finalised after extensive site visits and discussions. It took into account the diverse views of the Focus Group members, which comprised representatives from academia, grassroots, non-governmental organisations and professional institutions. The report also incorporated the views of the public obtained from the Lifestyle Survey 2009 and Online Survey 2010, the Public Forum held on 6 May 2010 and the online feedback website that was opened to the public from 6 to 25 May 2010.

3 We found the Focus Group discussions and public response vibrant and insightful. We are encouraged to note that much is being done at the community level to make Singapore a more sustainable city. We are also heartened to hear that people care about Singapore as their home and that they have many suggestions to offer in enhancing their sense of belonging to Singapore. We are grateful for the active participation of the public in providing us useful feedback.

4 We feel that the Focus Group consultation journey has been a meaningful experience for engaging Singapore society in drawing up aspirations and ideas for the long-term development of Singapore through the Concept Plan, and we are pleased to have been part of it. On behalf of our members, we would like to thank you for engaging us in this consultation process and for giving us the opportunity to contribute to shaping Singapore into a sustainable city and an endearing home.

Ambassador Ong Keng Yong & Mr Lee Tzu Yang

Co-chairmen of Focus Group on Sustainability & Identity

10 August 2010

Ambassador Ong Keng Yong and Mr Lee Tzu YangCo-chairmen, Focus Group on Sustainability and Identity

Dear

CONCEPT PLAN 2011 REVIEWFINAL REPORT OF FOCUS GROUP ON SUSTAINABILITY AND IDENTITY

Thank you for your letter of 6 August 2010, forwarding me the final report of your Focus Group.

2 The Concept Plan is a key national planning process to help us allocate our limited land resources to achieve economic, environmental and social sustainability outcomes holistically. Sustainable development will become more challenging going forward as further development and growth will potentially stress our environment and limited resources. Hence trade-offs among various goals will be required.

3 We cannot make these trade-offs without consulting the public. Your Focus Group has catalyzed the process of public consultation by engaging a wide segment of the public to think about how we can develop more sustainably and enhance our identity in the process. Over the past few months, your Focus Group held several discussion sessions and conducted dialogues with various community groups and members of the public. I would like to thank the Focus Group for its commitment, time and effort. I am also very encouraged by the public response to the consultation process.

4 Your Focus Group has rightly focused on the need to facilitate a change in lifestyle and habits to make our city more sustainable, and put forth interesting ideas on how the physical planning and policies can be geared to achieve the transition to a more sustainable lifestyle. I have asked URA and the relevant government agencies to study your recommendations very carefully with a view to implementing them.

5 I thank all your Focus Group members and all the individuals who have actively contributed ideas to this report.

Yours

MAH BOW TAN

MINISTER FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTSINGAPORE

FOCUS GROUPCo-chairmen

Mr Lee Tzu Yang Chairman, Shell Companies in Singapore

Ambassador Ong Keng Yong Director, Institute of Policy Studies

MembersMr Allen Ang Aik LengChairman, Green Committee of North West Community Development Council

Mr Ashvinkumar s/o KantilalPresident, Singapore Institute of Architects

Ms Chang Li LinAssociate Director,Institute of Policy Studies

Mr Cheang Kok KheongAlternate to 2nd Vice President, Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore

Dr Ee Chye HuaHonorary Secretary,Home Nursing Foundation

Ms Gamar Bte Abdul AzizCourse Manager and Lecturer, School of Communication, Arts and Social Sciences, Singapore Polytechnic

Mr Ganesh KalyanamDirector, Office of Student & Graduate Affairs and The Republic Cultural Centre,Republic Polytechnic

Mr Ho Jun Yi President, 31st Executive Committee,National University of Singapore Students’ Union (NUSSU)

Associate Professor Shirlena HuangHead, Department of Geography,National University of Singapore

Mr Isa KamariArchitect; writer

Dr Kua Harn WeiAssistant Professor,School of Design and Environment,National University of Singapore

Mr Francis LeePresident, Raffles MarinaChairman,International Year of the Reef 2008/Blue Plan 09

Mrs Lim Lai ChengPrincipal, Raffles Institution

Dr Shawn LumPresident,Nature Society (Singapore)

Ms Goh Sin HweeNews Editor, Lianhe Zaobao

Mr Ken Ong Kwee Tiong1st Vice-Chairman, People’s AssociationYouth Movement, Central Youth Council

Mr Andreas SchafferSustainability Director,Earth Observatory of Singapore

Professor Seeram RamakrishnaChairman, National Committee of Engineering Organisation, Institution of Engineers, Singapore

Mr Daren Shiau Vee LungLawyer; Author;Member, Central Singapore Community Development Council

Mr John SuanChief Executive Officer,Singapore Anglican Community Services

Mr Edwin KhewChief Executive Officer and Managing Director, IUT Global Pte Ltd; Chairman, Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS)

Mdm Ruby TanCurriculum Planning Officer, Geography,Ministry of Education

Mr Tiew Chew MengVice Chairman, Environment & Health Committee of South West Community Development Council

Dr Belinda YuenImmediate Past President,Singapore Institute of Planners (Alternate rep: Ms Evlyn W.Y. Cheong)

Mdm Zainon Bte SallehCouncil Member, Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

1 INTRODUCTION 1

Building a sustainable city 1

Making Singapore an endearing home 3

Key recommendations 5

2 BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE CITY 6

Strengthen green infrastructure 6

Foster more sharing and ownership of sustainable practices 16

3 MAKING SINGAPORE AN ENDEARING HOME 19

Cherish and safeguard our built and natural heritage 19

Enhance our people’s experience of our built andnatural heritage 26

Involve the community in shaping an endearingSingapore 30

4 CONCLUSION 32

ANNEX A SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS 34

ANNEX B SUMMARY OF PUBLIC FEEDBACK 36

FOREWORD

This report presents the proposals and recommendations of the Focus Group on Sustainability and Identity presented to the Ministry of National Development (MND) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) for consideration as inputs for the formulation of the Concept Plan 2011 (CP2011).

The Concept Plan is a strategic land use and transportation plan to guide Singapore’s development over the next 40 to 50 years. Long-term planning enables Singapore to meet its future needs through sustainable growth. The Concept Plan is reviewed every 10 years to keep pace with changing trends in economic and social needs. The last major review of the Concept Plan was carried out in 2001.

The review of the Concept Plan is currently ongoing. The current review aims to chart Singapore’s long term growth directions towards sustaining economic growth, providing a good living environment for all, and building an inclusive society where the needs of various sectors of the population are taken care of, a sustainable city that balances growth with responsible environmental management, and an endearing home where people have a strong sense of belonging to Singapore.

As the Concept Plan will shape Singapore’s future, it is important that the review seeks the views and aspirations of the larger community. Hence, as part of the CP2011 review, URA has conducted a comprehensive public consultation exercise comprising a Lifestyle Survey, an Online Survey, Focus Group consultations and public forums to provide a variety of channels for the public to provide input to the Concept Plan review.

The Focus Group consultation is a key element of the public consultation exercise. Two Focus Groups were formed at the launch of the Concept Plan public consultation exercise on 23 January 2010. One of these was the Focus Group on Sustainability and Identity, which was tasked with the following:

a Identify the ways through which sustainable development can be made relevant to our community;

b Propose how individuals, households, community groups and businesses can contribute to sustainable development;

c Identify the principles or criteria that we can adopt to identify significant places or elements that contribute to our sense of belonging; and

d Propose strategies to further enhance Singapore as an endearing home while balancing against the need for Singapore to grow and develop.

This Focus Group was co-chaired by Mr Lee Tzu Yang (Chairman, Shell Companies in Singapore) and Ambassador Ong Keng Yong (Director, Institute of Policy Studies). The Focus Group members were drawn from a wide spectrum of society, including representatives from community groups, academia, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), professional institutions, business associations, grassroots and youths.

The Focus Group held extensive discussions over 12 sessions between 23 January and 26 April 2010. The sessions included briefings from government agencies such as the URA, Housing and Development Board (HDB), Land Transport Authority (LTA), National Parks Board (NParks), Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR), and organisations such as South West Community Development Council, as well as site visits to various locations in Singapore relevant to the discussion topics. These included Kampong Glam, Little India, Southern Ridges, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Changi Boardwalk. Findings from the Lifestyle Survey 2009 and the Online Survey 2010 were also shared with the Focus Group to facilitate their deliberations. The schedule of meetings and visits is in Annex A.

A public forum was held on 6 May 2010 for the Focus Group to share their preliminary recommendations with the public and to obtain public input. The preliminary recommendations were also posted online for feedback. The feedback provided was then taken into consideration by the Focus Group in finalising their recommendations (please see Annex B for the public feedback received).

URA is pleased to receive the ideas and recommendations by the Focus Group on Sustainability and Identity. We will study the proposals and incorporate them, where appropriate, in reviewing the Concept Plan. The draft CP2011 will then be exhibited for public feedback before it is finalised. We will also share the proposals with other relevant agencies so that the agencies can also take these ideas into account in formulating relevant policies and in the design, planning and management of public facilities and services.

Urban Redevelopment Authority45 Maxwell Road,

The URA CentreSingapore 069118

www.ura.gov.sg

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CHAPTER 1:INTRODUCTION

1.1 Convened in January 2010 as part of the public consultation exercise for URA’s

CP2011 Review, our Focus Group on Sustainability and Identity was tasked

to consider how Singapore can be a more sustainable city, as well as how

Singapore can remain an endearing home for our people even as it develops

into a vibrant global city.

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE CITY

1.2 Our Focus Group considered that sustainable growth should entail a holistic

and balanced consideration of economic, social and environmental concerns

in charting a nation’s development trajectory. Given Singapore’s limited

resources and growing population, we feel that sustainable development is

imperative for Singapore’s future. This is all the more so when we take stock of

the multiple challenges that Singapore will face in the coming years.

1.3 First, with Singapore’s small size and the increasing demand for land, we

have to ensure that there is sufficient land to meet current needs while also

safeguarding sufficient capacity for the needs of future generations. We must

be a responsible member of the international community and do our part

in supporting sustainable development. We also cannot ignore how climate

change (such as sea-level rise and changes in weather patterns) may impact

us as an island-nation.

1.4 Furthermore, with globalisation and an increasingly mobile population, our

population will become more diverse. At the same time, our population is also

ageing. Meeting the needs of different population segments to provide a good

quality of life for all is a goal which we should achieve. To manage all these

challenges, sustainable development is clearly a necessity for Singapore.

1.5 Our Focus Group notes that to further promote sustainable development and

respond to the effects of climate change, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on

Sustainable Development (IMCSD) was formed in February 2008 to formulate a

clear national framework and strategy for Singapore’s sustainable growth. We

also note that following a public consultation exercise, the IMCSD launched the

Sustainable Singapore Blueprint in April 2009 with 10 goals by 2030, as shown in

Figure 1 below.

Improving our resource efficiency

1 Achieve 35% reduction in energy intensity (consumption per dollar GDP) from 2005 levels.

2 Achieve domestic water consumption of 140L per person per day, down from 156L per person per day.

3 Raise overall recycling rate to 70%.

4 Increase public transport modal share to 70% through doubling our rail network and developing a more integrated and seamless public

transport system.

Enhancing our urban environment

5 Improve air quality by reducing ambient PM 2.5 (fine particles) levels to an annual mean of 12μg/m3 and capping ambient SO2 (sulphur dioxide) levels at an annual mean of 15μg/m3.

6 Reach a park provision of 0.8ha per 1000 persons and increase skyrise greenery by 50ha. Park connectors will be lengthened from 100km to 360km.

7 Increase blue spaces by opening up 900ha of reservoirs and 100km of waterways for recreational activities.

8 Increase accessibility and convenience for pedestrians and cyclists by expanding our covered linkways and cycling networks.

Building capability and expertise

9 Build Singapore into an international knowledge hub in sustainable development solutions.

Building an environmentally responsible community

10 Achieve a community in Singapore where environmental responsibility is a part of our people and business culture.

Figure 1: Sustainable Singapore Blueprint: 10 Goals by 20301

1 Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, A Lively and Liveable Singapore: Strategies for Sustainable Growth (Singapore: MEWR, 2009), <http://app.mewr.gov.sg/web/contents/ContentsSSS.aspx?contid=1307>

Features

% of respondents who indicate that this feature makes Singapore special

(note 1)

Frequently mentioned examples by respondents

Parks and greenery 56.6%East Coast ParkBotanic Gardens Bishan Park

Conservation areas and buildings

53.7%Chinatown Little IndiaJoo Chiat

National icons and destinations 47.4%Changi Airport Esplanade Supreme Court

My housing estate (both public and private)

34.2%Tampines Bedok Toa Payoh

Others 33.9%Bedok hawker centre Ang Mo Kio hawker centre Lau Pa Sat

Signature events that take place regularly which I can participate in

20.7%Marina Bay Singapore Countdown Singapore River Festival National Day Parade

Local commercial centres or gathering spaces and significant streets

19.2%Holland Village Jalan Kayu Dempsey area

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1.6 In addition, we note that Singapore has pledged to undertake mitigation

measures leading to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 16% below

Business-as-Usual (BAU) levels in 2020, contingent on a legally binding global

agreement in which all countries implement their commitments in good faith.

Although a legally binding agreement has yet to be achieved, Singapore will

nonetheless begin to implement the mitigation and energy efficiency measures

announced under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint. These measures are an

integral part of the measures to achieve a 16% reduction below BAU. When a

legally binding global agreement on climate change is reached, Singapore will

implement additional measures to achieve the full 16% reduction below BAU in

2020.

1.7 Our Focus Group commends the Government’s efforts to date and feels that

these goals are the first step in the right direction for Singapore to become a

sustainable city. With these goals set in place, we feel that what is required now

is greater and more active business and community participation in achieving

these goals.

1.8 Hence, our recommendations for making Singapore a more sustainable city

focus very much on how existing policies, frameworks and programmes can be

expanded or refined to encourage the business sector and our community to

actively explore ways to be more environmentally conscious and responsible.

Our proposals reflect our hope that as a nation, at all levels of businesses,

community, and Government, we can embark on a concerted effort to make

Singapore a more sustainable city.

MAKING SINGAPORE AN ENDEARING HOME

1.9 In addition to environmental sustainability, our Focus Group also recognises that

social sustainability is a vital aspect of sustainable development. Our Focus Group

feels strongly that this is an important issue to all Singaporeans and residents

and that it is pertinent to the CP2011 Review. With changing demographics

and fast-changing environments both internally and globally, it will become

even more critical to look at what makes Singapore endearing today, how we

can reinforce the endearing elements and aspects of Singapore, and how we

can better connect future generations with them.

2 Urban Redevelopment Authority, URA Lifestyle Survey 2009 (Singapore: URA, 2009), <http://spring.ura.gov.sg/conceptplan2011/results/Report%20-%20Lifestyle%20Survey%20 and%20Online%20Survey.pdf>

1.10 We believe that the larger community also agrees on the importance of social

sustainability. According to the results of the URA Lifestyle Survey 20092, sense

of belonging is an important issue to Singaporeans. The survey shows that

Singaporeans have a strong sense of belonging to Singapore. 89.8% of local

respondents agree or strongly agree that Singapore is their home and where

they belong. However, the rapid pace of change in Singapore is a concern.

73.2% of the respondents agree or strongly agree that the physical landscape

in Singapore changes too quickly.

1.11 In addition, the Lifestyle Survey results show that the top 3 aspects that make

Singapore special to the people are parks and greenery, conservation areas

and buildings, and national icons and destinations (see Figure 2).

Figure 2: Features that make Singapore special(from URA Lifestyle Survey 2009)

Note 1: Respondents were asked to select 3 features that make Singapore special to them. Source: URA Lifestyle Survey 2009

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CHAPTER 2: BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE CITY

Environmental sustainability is important for our future and it makes good economic sense as well. It is the right and responsible thing to do. What policies and practices are needed to make sustainable living a part of the Singaporean lifestyle?

2.1 To build a sustainable city, we need to pay attention to both the hardware as

well as the software aspects of the environment. There are already initiatives

and policies in place to ensure the provision of the necessary infrastructure to

enhance the environmental sustainability of our city. However, we think that

more can be done in terms of taking a more holistic approach to strengthen

our green infrastructure.

2.2 A sustainable city also requires sustainable communities. There are already

community initiatives to involve people to do their part for the environment.

However, we believe we can do more to educate and influence the public

to make mindset and lifestyle changes, such as to use more public transport,

reduce and recycle waste, and to conserve resources.

STRENGTHEN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

2.3 We recognise that there are already ongoing efforts to enhance the environmental sustainability of our built environment. At the national level, the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint sets out strategic directions to promote sustainable growth in different aspects of our built environment3. Various government agencies have also taken the lead to implement policies to promote environmental sustainability in various areas, from the adoption of green building features in public sector buildings to the promotion of public transport and supporting efforts to reduce waste and encourage recycling.

2.4 We recognise the importance of these existing initiatives and we propose to strengthen them through the following ways:

a Introduce more green buildings and take a lifecycle approach to green buildings;

b Promote the use of environmentally friendly transport;c Establish an islandwide waste-reduction and recycling programme for

the community; andd Grow demand for green products and energy sources.

3 Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, A Lively and Liveable Singapore: Strategies for Sustainable Growth (Singapore: MEWR, 2009), <http://app.mewr.gov.sg/web/contents/ContentsSSS.aspx?contid=1307>

1.12 These results confirm our belief that social sustainability and a sense of belonging to Singapore are close to the hearts of many Singaporeans and residents. This reinforces the importance of this topic for this Review.

1.13 We are pleased to note that there are already plans progressively being implemented by various government agencies to enhance our sense of belonging to Singapore as an endearing home, such as the URA’s conservation programme, the Identity Plan and Parks & Waterbodies Plan, the National Parks Board’s (NParks) Heritage Roads and Heritage Trees Scheme, and National Heritage Board’s (NHB) Heritage Trails.

1.14 We think that such efforts are a very good start in making Singapore endearing. However, we also note that they generally concern the ‘hardware’, with their focus on retaining and preserving the buildings and greenery, or infrastructural improvements. We feel that for Singapore to be an endearing home, the community must connect with the city. Hence, our recommendations involve going beyond the physical hardware to enhancing the ‘software’ by adopting a people-centric and activities-based approach towards strengthening our community’s sense of belonging to Singapore.

KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

1.15 With the above concerns in mind, our Focus Group has come up with a set of

recommendations which we have categorised under two thrusts:

a Building a sustainable city i Strengthen green infrastructure ii Foster more sharing and ownership of sustainable practices

b Making Singapore an endearing home i Cherish and safeguard our built and natural heritage ii Enhance our people’s experience of our built and natural heritage iii Involve the community in shaping an endearing Singapore

1.16 As the following chapters will illustrate, many of our recommendations are targeted towards encouraging greater community involvement in facilitating Singapore’s sustainable growth and making our city an endearing home to live, work and play in. We believe that community participation is an important aspect that can greatly enhance existing government efforts to ensure Singapore’s economic, social and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, as members of the community, we feel that this is an aspect of Singapore’s sustainable development efforts on which we can best provide ideas. Our Focus Group hopes that our recommendations will be a useful contribution to URA’s CP2011 Review.

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2.8 At the design and planning stage, architects and developers should actively

incorporate sustainable and energy-saving building features (such as motion

lighting sensors, solar panels and water-efficient loos), and design buildings to

make use of natural ventilation to reduce reliance on air-conditioning. At the

construction stage, the extraction, processing and transport of raw materials

should be assessed carefully so that these are carried out in an environmentally

sustainable manner that inflicts minimal damage on our physical and natural

environments. In addition, we should use locally-obtained, recycled and

renewable resources where possible to reduce the need for transportation of

materials, thereby also reducing Singapore’s carbon footprint. Similarly, at the

operation and maintenance stage, building owners should ensure that the

maintenance of green building features does not consume more resources

than necessary. Innovation in technology should be encouraged to overcome

such issues and minimise resources used for truly green buildings.

2.9 We also propose that the Government review the land tender system to include green building criteria as one of the considerations in the evaluation process.

This would encourage developers to incorporate more green building design

features in their developments from the start. For example, the Government

has set higher Green Mark standards as land sales conditions for selected new

growth areas such as Marina Bay and the Jurong Lake District. We propose that

this be extended to other areas around Singapore.

Introduce more green buildings and take a lifecycle approach

2.5 Currently, Singapore’s Green Mark scheme encourages developers to adopt green building standards and features for new and existing buildings. The 2nd Green Building Masterplan4 contains several incentives to encourage the adoption of green building features in both existing and new buildings, like the Green Mark Incentive Scheme for Existing Buildings and the Green Mark Initiative Scheme for New Buildings5. The target is for at least 80% of our existing building stock (by Gross Floor Area) to achieve at least Green Mark Certified rating by 20306.

2.6 While more and more developers of new buildings have subscribed to the Green Mark Scheme, we should accelerate the take-up rate by stepping up efforts to further incentivise owners and tenants of existing buildings to adopt green building features. For example, tax rebates can be given to building owners whose buildings achieve the Green Mark Platinum or GoldPlus standard, and for them to keep maintaining that standard through re-certification under the Green Mark (Existing Buildings) scheme. We also propose a mechanism to share incentives from the various schemes or cost savings from the adoption of energy-efficient measures among building tenants, especially in strata-titled properties like Lucky Plaza. The loss of revenue during the retrofitting period for the building owners and tenants is also a disincentive for introducing green features. We can consider providing incentives to overcome this, such as rebates during the period of upgrading works. In the longer term, we can consider mandating Green Mark certification for all existing developments.

2.7 The current Green Mark scheme focuses more on the end-product i.e. the building design and its operations, rather than the construction process or the materials and resources used towards the construction of the building, including its green building features. Hence, for a more holistic approach, we propose that the Green Mark scheme be expanded to encompass the entire lifecycle of a building – from design and planning, to construction, operation and maintenance. To do this, we can explore introducing some form of ‘lifecycle accounting’, where building developers and owners are required to document the materials and resources used throughout the lifespan of a building.

4 Building and Construction Authority, 2nd Green Building Masterplan (Singapore: BCA, 2009), <http://www.bca.gov.sg/GreenMark/others/gbmp2.pdf>

5 The $100 million Green Mark Incentive Scheme for Existing Buildings was launched in April 2009 to incentivise the “greening” of existing buildings in the private sector, while the $20 million Green Mark Incentive Scheme for New Buildings was established in 2006 to encourage private developers, building owners, and project consultants to achieve Green Mark Gold rating or higher for new developments with a gross floor area (GFA) of at least 2,000 square metres.

6 This is one of the targets set out in the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint.

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2.14 We can also implement dedicated bus lanes for express buses (with no stops)

transporting commuters from a main bus station in the city to major residential

estates. This can help to reduce the commute times when taking public

transport.

2.15 Accessibility to our public transport system also needs to be enhanced to

increase ridership. Hence, it is important to ensure that our trains and buses will

be better equipped to facilitate the movement of commuters on wheelchairs

or with prams, such as by designating greater space for wheelchairs or having

retractable ramps10.

2.16 While the essence of these suggestions are already manifested in current

policies or procedures, a more integrated, holistic approach to making public

transport a more attractive and convenient option would help Singapore

attain its desired levels of environmental and operational sustainability with

regard to transportation (and its associated social, logistical and infrastructural

ramifications).

2.17 Car parking policies should be reviewed to discourage the use of private

transport, for example by reducing the number of car parking lots or by charging higher car parking fees in the city and town centres. At a more strategic level, the

Government can review whether it is tenable to restrict car usage or restrain car population growth. In designing these policies, however, the Government needs

to remember to cater to the specific needs of certain population segments,

such as families with children or the elderly, who may require private vehicles for

more convenient transport. The policies should thus be crafted to encourage

the use of public transport while still giving people the choice to use private

vehicles, albeit at a cost.

2.18 While recognising that there are mixed views on the issue of cycling11, our Focus

Group recommends that we should encourage cycling and walking as clean

alternative travel modes by making them safer and more comfortable. Cycling can be promoted as a means of travel to the local public transport nodes,

10 Currently, all MRT stations already have at least one barrier-free access. By 2020, all public buses in Singapore will be wheelchair accessible based on the LTMP.

11 For example, our focus group received public feedback on the feasibility of facilitating cycling in Singapore given our climate and land constraints.

Promote the use of environmentally friendly transport

2.10 Transport has significant, wide-ranging impact on the sustainability of our living

environment. According to the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint, our transport

sector accounts for about 13% of our overall energy consumption and 50%

of the fine particles in the air. There is also a limit to how much our roads can

be expanded with increasing demands on our limited land. Allowing our car

population and roads to continue to grow at the rate that it has in the past is

not sustainable for a country as small as Singapore. Thus, our focus group feels

that more people should take public transport, walk or cycle as an alternative to private transport for a more sustainable Singapore. As a bonus, there might

be added health benefits.

2.11 We note that the Government has actively promoted public transport as a

mode of choice through various initiatives in the Land Transport Masterplan7

(LTMP; released in 2008) such as the doubling of the rail network by 2020,

centralised bus network planning and the development of integrated public

transport hubs. However, we believe that more can be done, especially with

regard to the declining public transport mode share during the morning peak

hours over the years, from 63% in 2004 to 59% in 20088.

2.12 To encourage more people to use public transport, we propose that fares be reduced and public transport be made more convenient, frequent and comfortable. For example, the use of multi-modal season passes that allow

unlimited travel across different transport modes within a designated zone or

time period9 and cheaper shuttle bus services to Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)/Light

Rail Transit (LRT) stations can be further encouraged.

2.13 Longer operating hours for buses and trains will also help encourage public

transport usage, especially for night events and activities. For selected national

events like the New Year’s Eve countdown at Marina Bay, buses and trains should

operate all night to encourage everyone to take public transport.

7 Land Transport Authority, Land Transport Masterplan (Singapore: LTA, 2008), <http://www.lta.gov.sg/ltmp/LTMP.html>

8 According to the findings of the Land Transport Authority (LTA)’s Household Interview Travel Survey (HITS) released in October 2009, the decline of the public transport mode share during the morning peak hours could be attributed to a lack of major infrastructural improvements in the public transport system between 2004 and 2008, while the population of vehicles and people continued to grow. For more information, see: Land Transport Authority, “More Journeys are Made on Both Private and Public Transport”, Land Transport Authority News Releases (26 October 2009), <http://www.lta.gov.sg/corp_info/index_corp_press.htm?Year=2009>

9 In 2009, the EZ-Link Season Pass was introduced to allow unlimited travel on Singapore’s basic bus services and rail services (MRT and LRT) within a given period of time. For more information, see: EZ-Link Pte. Ltd., “About the EZ-Link Season Pass”, EZ-Link Consumer, 2010, <http://www.ezlink.com.sg/consumer/consumer_ispabout.jsp>.

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Establish an islandwide waste management and recycling programme for the community

2.21 Besides promoting the adoption of green building features and the use of public

transport, we should encourage more people to reduce waste and recycle

more in Singapore.

2.22 We recognise that there are today various initiatives to promote recycling

in Singapore. A voluntary Singapore Packaging Agreement has been put in

place by the National Environment Agency (NEA) to reduce packaging wastes

across various sectors in Singapore13. Centralised recycling bins have also been

provided in many housing estates. The Community Development Councils

(CDCs) have also put in place community initiatives to promote recycling. For

example, South West CDC has a recycling scheme that raises funds for charity.

To further promote recycling, we propose that the various recycling efforts

be coordinated holistically in a national programme. We should consider

implementing a comprehensive infrastructure to support the national recycling programme.

2.23 Adequate and accessible recycling facilities should be provided across Singapore so that recycling becomes part of our daily lives. Many people have

given feedback that while there are today recycling bins in their estates, these

are still too few and too far away from their blocks. Such recycling facilities

should be made even more accessible. For example, a set of recycling bins

should be provided at the foot of each housing block. With the rail network

becoming more extensive in the future, we can tap on the network to promote

recycling. Recycling facilities could be located at public transport nodes with

rebates given on public transport fares to reward and encourage recycling.

In this way, we can promote both recycling and the use of public transport. As

part of this islandwide recycling programme, we can also introduce community

composting as a way of turning organic wastes into a useful product. Retail

outlets (e.g. supermarkets) can also play their part to support recycling by

encouraging customers to return recyclable items such as used plastic bottles

and cans.

hence helping to encourage the use of public transport. A dedicated bicycle lane network should be seriously considered12, like those found in other cities

such as Osaka, Amsterdam and Sydney. Local university campuses are good

places to start encouraging cycling as a transport mode, since the buildings

are often spread over a large area and most commuting takes place within the

confines of the campus. Where dedicated cycling lanes are not feasible due

to limited land, more can be done in changing attitudes towards the sharing

of footpaths or roads with cyclists. Regulations should be imposed to instill the correct road ethics for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. This is important, as

to effectively implement cycling as an alternative mode of transport requires

not only the improvement of physical infrastructure but also a transformational

change in people’s behaviour. Pedestrians, motorists and cyclists all need to

share roads and exercise more care for one another’s safety.

2.19 We should have more parking facilities for bicycles that are also more secure

and space efficient, especially at transport nodes like bus interchanges or MRT

stations. Changing facilities, toilets, and amenities should also be introduced

for cyclists at appropriate locations. To encourage walking, we propose having more pedestrian connections that are shaded from direct sun or rain between

transport nodes and stops to the surrounding developments. It would also be

useful to provide green foliage cover to cool pathways to MRT stations, bus

interchanges, bus stops and taxi stands. We could also consider implementing

traffic-calming measures to make neighbourhoods more amenable and

attractive for walking. For example, in Tokyo, the main thoroughfares through

the iconic Ginza shopping district are closed every Sunday. Singapore could

follow the example of New York City, which started by closing selected streets

to vehicular traffic for trial periods and observing the impact before making the

closures permanent. Similar measures have been implemented in Singapore

(such as the conversion of Bussorah Street, Pagoda Street and parts of Waterloo

Street into pedestrian thoroughfares), but the Focus Group proposes such

measures on a more comprehensive, ambitious and strategic scale.

2.20 A related initiative which the Focus Group took into consideration is the idea of

giving greater flexibility to workers to work from home and to stagger work hours.

Incentives could be given to companies to allow more workers to telecommute

and to work in staggered shifts. This will reduce the need to travel and the travel

load at any point in time, thereby helping to reduce vehicular carbon emissions

and congestion respectively.

12 In 2009, LTA announced plans to build dedicated cycling tracks next to pedestrian footpaths in Yishun, Tampines, Taman Jurong, Pasir Ris and Sembawang. In 2010, LTA announced that cycling path networks will also be developed in Changi-Simei and Bedok. For more information, see: Land Transport Authority, “Changi-Simei, Bedok and Marina Bay to have Cycling Infrastructure by 2014”, Land Transport Authority News Releases (15 July 2010), <http://www.lta.gov.sg/corp_info/index_corp_press.htm?Year=2010>

13 The Singapore Packaging Agreement was launched on 1 July 2007, to provide a platform for industries to collaborate with the government to reduce packaging waste. The Agreement is voluntary, so as to provide flexibility for the industries to adopt cost-effective solutions to reduce waste. For more information, see:

National Environmental Agency, “Singapore Packaging Agreement”, NEA Programmes, 5 June 2007, <http://app2.nea.gov.sg/topics_packagreement.aspx>.

13 14

Grow demand for green products and energy sources

Encourage environmentally friendly products

2.26 We should encourage people and businesses in Singapore to buy more green

products. While green products may cost more in the short run, the long term cost

of maintaining the status quo would be more significant and would negatively

affect more people. Currently, there are various initiatives to encourage

consumers to purchase environmentally friendly products and services. The

Singapore Green Labelling scheme was launched in 1992 to identify products

that have met certain criteria with regard to the environmental impact of the

product and the manufacturing process involved14. One of the objectives of

the labeling scheme is to inform and guide consumers in purchasing products

that are more eco-friendly and less damaging to the environment. At the same

time, the scheme also encourages businesses to manufacture products in a

more environmentally friendly manner.

2.27 The Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation launched a Sustainable

Manufacturing Programme in April 2009 to encourage Singapore manufacturers

to adopt eco-friendly sustainable manufacturing processes so as to reduce

greenhouse gas emissions, increase the use of clean energy, improve energy

usage, reduce the use of non-renewable materials, and promote the recycling

of waste and by-products15. In November 2009, the Singapore Manufacturers’

Federation and the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) also jointly developed

the Sustainable Manufacturing Label to allow businesses to measure the

sustainability of their processes and to set targets for further improvement16.

2.28 While the above initiatives and schemes are important in encouraging both

consumers and businesses to adopt more environmentally friendly practices,

mindset changes are necessary to entrench the adoption of such practices.

Though green products may cost more upfront, we need to also consider the

long-term savings in maintenance and running costs throughout the product

lifespan, as well as the less-quantifiable benefits to the environment. More

demand could also enable more green products to be manufactured with

lower production costs over time.

14 Singapore Environment Council, “Overview of the Green Label Scheme”, SEC Awards and Endorsements, 2010, <http://www.sec.org.sg/awards/greenlabel>

15 Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation et al, “Leading Enterprises Consolidate Efforts to Champion Sustainable Manufacturing in Singapore”, Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation Press Releases, 30 April 2009, <http://www.smafederation.org.sg/MediaCentre/PressReleases/tabid/82/Default.aspx>

16 Singapore Environment Council et al, “Leading Enterprises Launch Industry’s First-Ever Sustainable Manufacturing Label”, SEC Press Room, 3 November 2009, <http://www.sec.org.sg/newsfile/Joint%20Media%20Release_Launch%20of%20SM%20Label%20_031109_.pdf>

2.24 Similar to encouraging cycling as a clean transport mode, getting people to

reduce waste and recycle more requires more than just enhancing the provision

of physical facilities. We need to facilitate greater environmental consciousness

and a transformation in people’s lifestyle habits. In particular, incentives and

disincentives are important in encouraging the adoption of recycling and

waste reduction among the public. For example, waste disposal fees tied to the amount of trash collected from each household can help reduce waste

produced by each household. We could consider setting up incentive schemes

for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that deal with waste reduction and

recycling. We should also encourage the re-use of waste products as inputs for

other industries. More research can also be conducted into waste management

issues to create solutions not only for local companies but which can also be

shared with other cities in the region.

2.25 Beyond incentives and disincentives, we need to think about how we can

encourage mindset changes to allow for sustained adoption of more

environmentally friendly habits. We can do this by raising awareness of

how recycling and waste reduction can contribute to a greener, cleaner

and healthier environment worthy of greater community pride. Promoting

environmentally friendly lifestyles begins at home and in school. It is important

to start raising awareness of environmental issues among the young so that

they can continue with their green habits into adulthood. Parents also have an

important role to play as role models to children. Concerted efforts at raising awareness at all levels – schools, workplaces, homes, communities – should be put in place as a nation-wide initiative so that all can be better aware and

be inspired to be more responsible environmental stewards and members of

society.

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FOSTER MORE SHARING AND OWNERSHIP OF SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES2.34 Besides stepping up our efforts to build up our green infrastructure, we feel that

it is also critical to make sustainable development an inclusive, community-wide movement. There are already ongoing initiatives at the community level to involve the public in making a clean and green environment a reality in Singapore, from the local sustainability plans by the different CDCs to environmental programmes in schools and activities organised by NGOs to raise environmental awareness among the public. There has been increasing participation in these community activities as well. However, by incorporating these efforts into a larger, all-embracing scheme, greater complementarities, impact and participation will no doubt result.

2.35 These bottom-up efforts will go a long way in raising environmental awareness and encouraging mindset and lifestyle changes among the public. To build upon these efforts, we propose to promote greater awareness of and participation in sustainable living by:

a Promoting more community initiatives; and

b Encouraging and empowering local communities to take ownership of

the environment.

Promote more community initiatives2.36 There are many on-going community efforts and initiatives on environmental

sustainability, such as promoting recycling and reducing energy consumption among households. The CDCs have put in place local sustainability plans to support the national goals set out in the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint. For example, the South West CDC has a Environment & Community Plan (Eco Plan) which contains specific goals that are relevant to the community (such as reducing energy consumption and promoting resource conservation), as well as concrete action plans to achieve these goals18. There are also programmes in schools to promote environmental awareness among youths. NGOs such as the SEC and the Nature Society, Singapore (NSS) have also been active in engaging the community in resource conservation, public cleanliness and nature conservation.

2.37 To strengthen existing community efforts to promote environmental sustainability, we should find ways to communicate and share ideas with one another on how to do more. A framework should be developed for the public sector, businesses, NGOs, communities, and schools to share best practices and work together on environmental initiatives. For example, there should be greater sharing of initiatives and practices across the different CDCs so as to reduce duplication in efforts and to create greater synergies in their efforts to promote

18 South West Community Development Council, Environment & Community Plan South West (Singapore: South West CDC, 2009), <http://www.southwestcdc.org.sg/paWeb/images/swcdc/eco_plan.pdf>

2.29 The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has community outreach programmes to educate the public on the benefits of green building features through exhibitions and talks. BCA also helps to raise awareness of available ‘green collar’ jobs so as to attract more young Singaporeans to consider careers in the green building sector. We believe that BCA’s efforts will go a long way in raising public awareness about and demand for green building features, thereby motivating building owners and developers to adopt them.

2.30 Hence, we propose that greater efforts be made in educating both consumers and businesses on the long term benefits of going green. This could be complemented by developing appropriate procurement procedures and incentives for obtaining products from environmentally friendly sources. The public sector can take the lead in encouraging our people to use more green products. For example, the Government has taken the lead to “green” the existing building stock on the island by requiring that all existing buildings owned by government agencies, in addition to new public sector buildings, meet higher Green Mark standards by 2020.

2.31 Besides educating consumers, a reliable green accreditation body and system should be set up. Implementing a proper auditing process will help to establish reliable environmental standards for products and services which people can rely upon when deciding on their purchases. This can in turn encourage greater take-up of green consumerism.

Promote green energy sources

2.32 We should also promote the use of cleaner and renewable energy sources, such as solar energy or biogas. We should leverage on our tropical climate by installing more solar panels on buildings. The electricity produced can complement the grid during peak hour consumption.

2.33 Cleaner and more energy-efficient vehicles, such as hybrid and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles, should also be further promoted through additional incentives and tax rebates such as by enhancing the current Green Vehicle Rebate scheme17. To facilitate the switch to using green vehicles, supporting infrastructure should also be built. For example, more stations for topping up natural gas should be set up, and we can also consider providing car park lots with power points in public housing estates for the recharging of electric vehicles.

17 The Green Vehicle Rebate scheme was first introduced in January 2001 to promote green vehicles (such as electric, hybrid or CNG vehicles) which are more fuel-efficient and emit less air pollutants than their conventional petrol or diesel equivalents. The scheme aims to narrow the cost differential between green vehicles and conventional vehicles. For more information, see: National Environment Agency, “Green Vehicle Rebate”, NEA Topics, 2002,

<http://app2.nea.gov.sg/topics_gvr.aspx>

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2.43 To enhance the sense of bonding and ownership in our environment, we propose

to have more volunteering opportunities for people who are keen to contribute in their own way to making our living environment more sustainable. For example,

volunteers can be involved as guides in our nature reserves and parks, or can

work to keep our neighbourhoods clean. Though such volunteer programmes

already exist, we can redouble our efforts to make the safeguarding and wise

management of the commons an integral part of the Singapore way of life.

2.44 We should also empower residents to take ownership of improving our living

environment. For example, we could make it easier for residents to set up

community gardens in their estates. At all levels, we should also recognise individuals and local communities that have contributed significantly to our environmental sustainability efforts as “green heroes”, and encourage people

to come forward to do their part for the environment.

environmental sustainability. More can also be done to facilitate the sharing of knowledge on environmentally sustainable business practices, processes and technologies, not just within the private sector but across the public, private and people sectors as well.

2.38 Schools play a critical role in raising environmental awareness and inculcating ‘green’ values and habits among the younger generations. Environmental education has been incorporated into the school curriculum, and students are involved in environmental initiatives in schools and the community. However, for such projects to be sustained, the schools and students need to be equipped with sufficient resources, including funding and information. To do this, we can consider a framework for schools to work hand-in-hand with the people and private sectors on environmental projects. There should also be greater sharing of environmental teaching resources across schools so as to reduce duplication in efforts. In addition, while we could introduce environmental sustainability as a compulsory subject in our educational system, it might be better to see how schools and tertiary institutions can inculcate such attributes in a more holistic manner.

2.39 We can also tap on the mass media to further promote environmental awareness among the public. For example, we can have locally produced television programmes and movies on environmental issues which appeal to the local audience, thus better encouraging them to do their part for the environment.

2.40 It may also be worthwhile to explore designing a high accolade award (e.g. the Platinum Sustainability Award) to be given to organisations that effectively implement sustainable habits at their workplaces. Organisations which receive this award could be given incentives such as tax rebates.

Encourage and empower local communities to take ownership of the environment

2.41 We all have a role to play in making Singapore environmentally sustainable, as

Singapore is our home. In addition, we are caretakers of a wider environment

that knows no national boundaries.

2.42 Besides raising awareness among the public on the importance of adopting

environmentally friendly habits and practices, we should also see how they

can be sustained over the long term, for example through community activities

that involve everyone in doing their part for the environment, like tree planting

campaigns. Such activities also promote community bonding and enhance

our sense of ownership of the environment.

19 20

Historic districts and monuments

3.5 Through URA’s conservation programme, some 7,000 buildings and structures

islandwide have been conserved, including those in historic districts such as

Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India19. These buildings and districts

have added to the distinctive character and identity of our city, giving it

a sense of place and history. URA has also worked with the Preservation of

Monuments Board (PMB) to preserve monuments of historic, architectural and

artistic merit which embody Singapore’s diverse history and heritage. More

than 50 monuments have been gazetted, such as the former Supreme Court,

St Andrew’s Cathedral and Thian Hock Keng Temple20.

3.6 However, our heritage includes much more than physical structures. Trades and

activities also play a priceless role in instilling a sense of identity and belonging

in our people. Our historic districts should continue to be relevant to our people

in terms of their activities and uses. Currently, only limited controls on allowable

activities and types of specific uses are imposed in specific areas within the

Historic Districts’ core zones. The uses in the non-core peripheral areas as well as

in other identity nodes are generally left to the free market, and are controlled

only in the form of broad land use zoning regulations, such as commercial21,

residential & commercial, and so on.

3.7 While this approach has worked well for certain areas which have become

well known for the clustering of certain retail activities, such as the wedding

boutiques along Tanjong Pagar Road and textile shops along Arab Street, this

has not always been the case. Sometimes, it has resulted in the clustering of

less desirable uses, such as budget hotels along Balestier Road and karaoke

lounges in Duxton Plain. Moreover, existing clusters of uses that we consider

desirable, like the food outlets at Tanjong Katong, are vulnerable to market

forces that may eventually displace them from these areas.

3.8 While the kinds of activities and trades in historic districts need to stay relevant

with changing needs, we think that key traditional trades and activities within

historic districts should be retained to differentiate these areas from other

places, and to protect and highlight our heritage.

19 Urban Redevelopment Authority, “About Conservation”, URA Conservation, 30 June 2010, <http://www.ura.gov.sg/conservation/conservation.htm>

20 Preservation of Monuments Board, “National Monuments”, Preservation of Monuments Board Website, 2010, <http://www.pmb.sg/?page_id=6>

21 Many types of uses, including massage parlours, karaoke lounges, pubs, shops, coffeeshops and restaurants, are permitted under the broad Commercial landuse zoning

CHAPTER 3: MAKING SINGAPORE AN ENDEARING HOME

Singapore is well-known for being clean, green, safe and meticulously planned. What is it about Singapore that makes it special and endearing to us, and how can we keep it that way?

3.1 Besides environmental sustainability, social sustainability is also an important

aspect of sustainable development. This involves establishing and preserving

local character and identity, and building rooted, cohesive and involved

communities.

3.2 With globalisation and an increasingly mobile population, we should pay

greater attention to how we can build upon the unique aspects of Singapore’s

identity such as our parks and greenery, public housing estates, and our multi-

ethnic heritage to anchor and enhance our sense of belonging to Singapore,

and to make Singapore an even more endearing home.

CHERISH AND SAFEGUARD OUR BUILT AND NATURAL HERITAGE

3.3 Singapore has much built and natural heritage which can contribute to an increased sense of belonging to Singapore. These include our historic districts (e.g. Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India) and monuments (e.g. the old Supreme Court and City Hall), local areas of identity (e.g. Thomson Village, Joo Chiat, and Changi Village) and iconic structures (e.g. the Esplanade and the Merlion), public housing estates, parks and waterbodies, and nature reserves/areas (e.g. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Pulau Ubin).

3.4 There are already plans and strategies in place to enhance the identity and character of these places in order to strengthen our sense of belonging to Singapore. However, the challenge for us is to move beyond the physical hardware and to actively enhance the software aspects. We also need to strike a balance between letting these places evolve to meet the changing lifestyle needs of the people, and maintaining the character of these endearing places so that they continue to serve as anchors of our collective social memories.

21 22

Serangoon Road, Woodlands, and the Punggol waterfront. For example,

shophouses along Balestier Road were conserved to retain the area’s rich

sense of place and history; pedestrian links across the Southern Ridges and

a coastal boardwalk at Changi were built to enhance access for the public

to these scenic areas; and commercial uses at Thomson Village have been

retained to enhance the vibrancy of the areas.

3.13 However, these areas have also seen an infiltration of undesirable uses and

activities that compromise the character and identity of the areas such

as at Joo Chiat and Geylang. Activities and uses within identity nodes are

generally left to the free market and are controlled only through broad land

use zoning regulations. Nevertheless, we feel that the activities in our local

areas of identity should complement the character of the surroundings. An independent board, comprising relevant agencies and local stakeholders, can be set up to mediate conflicts within the community over the appropriate

kinds of uses to be allowed in these areas. This will encourage people to take

ownership of their environment and allow the community to resolve issues

among themselves. This can also allow different areas to evolve differently,

thus reflecting the different needs of each community.

3.14 We also need to develop more iconic structures to make our city more

distinctive, such as the Esplanade and the Helix Bridge, and allow for new

endearing places to evolve over time.

Public housing estates

3.15 What is also unique about Singapore is our public housing estates, where more than 80% of Singapore Resident Households live, with 95% of them owning their flats. Besides physically housing our population, our housing estates are also where the majority of the population will live much of their lives, spend time with their family and friends, and develop life-long social bonds and memories. Housing estates provide facilities and amenities such as local shops, hawker centres, town centres, community clubs, libraries, and public spaces that serve as important gathering spaces for the community. Based on the findings of the Lifestyle Survey 2009, 34% of the respondents felt that our housing estates make Singapore special, with amenities such as hawker centres and neighbourhood shops being the most important aspects that contribute to the identity of the area24.

3.9 We propose that a Heritage Charter, jointly drawn up by the public, private and people sectors, be introduced to guide the kinds of activities and uses to be allowed in heritage areas and historic districts. Such a Charter will establish

conservation principles and a code of practice based on the consensus of local

residents and stakeholders of these heritage areas. By outlining the agreed

approach to deal with heritage areas, the Charter can offer a framework for

considering development issues in these areas, such as the desired mix of trades

and businesses, and monitor the upkeep of heritage buildings in the district.

For example, one suggestion is for a “neutral zone” to be established around

places of worship (such as Sultan Mosque) where incompatible activities such

as pubs and karaoke lounges are not allowed. The Charter can also provide

a process for the local community to take ownership of the heritage districts

and carry out events or activities that further enhance the local character in

an authentic and ground-up manner.

3.10 To aid owners of developments safeguarded for conservation in maintaining

their properties, we can also consider giving financial incentives (like tax

rebates) or providing subsidies for the regular repainting of building facades

and rebuilding of facades according to conservation law.

Local areas of identity and iconic structures

3.11 A significant aspect of Singapore that reinforces our sense of belonging is our

areas of identity. Such areas include the shophouses at Thomson Village and

Siglap Village, areas with historic significance like Joo Chiat and Balestier, or

coastal gems such as Changi Point.

3.12 Recognising the significance of such identity areas, the Identity Plan was

drawn up in 2002, recognising some 15 identity nodes22 classified according

to their main attributes (i.e. Old World Charm, Southern Ridges and Hillside

Villages, Urban Villages and Rustic Coast). Various strategies were taken for

these areas, including recognising and retaining familiar built and natural

elements, enhancing the local infrastructure (such as improving sidewalks

and adding carparks), and injecting new spaces for the community23. Since

then, environmental improvement works have been implemented for areas

like Changi Point and Siglap Village, and works have commenced for Upper

22 Identity nodes (including markets and food & beverage outlets) are normally unique in local heritage and history, and are areas where communities gather and interact. They can be full of activities or places of quiet solitude.

23 For more information on the Identity Plan, see Urban Redevelopment Authority, Parks and Waterbodies Plan & Identity Plan (Singapore: URA, 2002), <http://www.ura.gov.sg/pwbid/>

24 Urban Redevelopment Authority, URA Lifestyle Survey 2009 (Singapore: URA, 2009), <http://spring.ura.gov.sg/conceptplan2011/results/Report%20-%20Lifestyle%20Survey%20 and%20Online%20Survey.pdf>

23 24

Parks and waterbodies

3.20 Besides conserving buildings and monuments, greenery is an important

aspect that contributes to our sense of belonging. In the Lifestyle Survey,

most of the respondents thought that parks and greenery are features that

make Singapore special to our people27. In 2002, the Parks and Waterbodies

plan was developed to guide their development. The key proposals were to

provide parks near homes (such as new parks like Woodlands Regional Park

and Sengkang Riverside Park), offer different park experiences (for example

the Tree Top Walk at MacRitchie Reservoir), and to enhance accessibility to

parks via park connectors28.

3.21 We propose that Singapore’s image as a City in a Garden be further

strengthened to make Singapore even more distinctive and to enhance

our sense of belonging to Singapore. We should imbue our parks with more

character by designating parks with national or historical significance as ‘National Parks’ or ‘Heritage Parks’.

3.22 Town parks in public housing estates should also be made more distinctive through a combination of waterbodies, activities, landscaping, and greenery that reflect the history of the town. One notable example is Toa Payoh Town

Park. It will also be useful to introduce more of such town parks in private

housing estates.

27 Urban Redevelopment Authority, URA Lifestyle Survey 2009 (Singapore: URA, 2009), <http://spring.ura.gov.sg/conceptplan2011/results/Report%20-%20Lifestyle%20Survey%20 and%20Online%20Survey.pdf>

28 Urban Redevelopment Authority, Parks and Waterbodies Plan & Identity Plan (Singapore: URA, 2002), <http://www.ura.gov.sg/pwbid/>

3.16 Recognising the importance of our housing estates, HDB has been improving the physical environment of its estates through the upgrading and rejuvenation of the estates to ensure a high-quality living environment for residents. One key example is HDB’s Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) programme, which is meant to rejuvenate our mature and middle-aged estates, and to build up new ones. Plans include developing a new generation of public housing that capitalises on local distinctive features, and rejuvenating community facilities and spaces25.

3.17 The NHB has also initiated Community Trails & Community Engagement Projects to promote heritage awareness in housing estates. Such projects document shared social memories and community history in the form of heritage trails and programmes in which the community can actively take part26. We propose further enhancing these community trails by recreating the past through features such as storyboards, landscaping and sculptures that should be actively planned along the trails and within community spaces.

3.18 Moving forward, as more housing estates undergo rejuvenation and redevelopment, we could retain significant buildings and iconic structures in such estates so that they are differentiated and distinctive in the eyes of both residents and visitors. Popular facilities, such as schools, wet markets and hawker centres, and town centres/squares could be retained and enhanced so that they anchor people to their housing estates while remaining relevant to their needs.

3.19 Original names of places and streets should be retained to strengthen our sense of identity by providing a link to our collective social memories of a place. Old, quaint road signs and signboards can also be retained to enhance shared memories of places.

25 Housing & Development Board, Remaking Our Heartland, 2010, <http://heartland.hdb.gov.sg/>

26 National Heritage Board, “Discover Singapore Heritage Trails”, heritagetrails.sg, 2009, <http://heritagetrails.sg/>

25 26

ENHANCE OUR PEOPLE’S EXPERIENCE OF OUR BUILT AND NATURAL HERITAGE

3.26 Our built and natural heritage is what makes Singapore an endearing home

to us. We should strengthen the sense of belonging and connection with our

built and natural heritage by fostering greater awareness of its value, making

these places more accessible to people, and by making these places come

alive through activities and events.

Raise awareness of endearing places

3.27 We think that it is important to raise awareness of our built and natural heritage.

This will help strengthen the sense of connection with our collective social

memories and to make our common heritage relevant to future generations.

3.28 Schools have an important role to play in this respect. We think that it is important

to educate the youth on the significance of the historic districts, for example

by building upon existing programmes such as the Learning Journeys which

bring school students to historic districts, so that such places will continue to

be relevant to them well into the future. Interpretative or educational centres can also be developed near or within the historic districts so as to allow visitors

to better understand the rich history and heritage of the areas.

3.29 We should introduce more signage and storyboards, including audio features,

in historic districts and local areas of identity, to instil knowledge and raise

awareness of their historical and social significance. Partnerships with special

interest and learned groups could be cultivated. Beyond NHB’s current

heritage trails, more walking tours can be conducted by community groups

to encourage people to find out more about the significance of these places.

Such walking tours are not only environmentally friendly, but also contribute

to helping people discover the heritage value of these historic districts. Local residents who are interested could be trained as guides and rewarded and recognised for their efforts.

3.30 There can be greater integration of local history into the rejuvenation plans for housing estates, such as through sculptures, public art and buildings, to raise

awareness of the history of the towns. New residents could be introduced to

the history and heritage of the town, through printed guides and invitations

to events. We should also encourage more small-scale private museums

Natural biodiversity

3.23 Our natural heritage is also an important aspect of what makes Singapore

distinctive and endearing. We should place stronger and more explicit emphasis

on recognising the role of our natural heritage in creating an endearing home.

For example, we can work towards a general planning rule stipulating that

solutions to maintain or improve urban biodiversity will be sought as a first

course of action in any development plans. In addition, while much biodiversity

on land has been retained, we should also retain and protect more of our

remaining marine biodiversity at places like Labrador Nature Reserve, Chek

Jawa and Pulau Semakau. We could also consider gazetting a Marine Reserve.

We should put in place nature corridors that connect the central catchment

reserves to the coastal areas, in order to allow the movement of flora and

fauna into the reserves to replenish and maintain the existing biodiversity.

3.24 We should also consider how biodiversity can be promoted in our urban

environment at 3 levels:

a Local: such as the incorporation of green features like green roofs, skyrise

gardens, vertical/urban farms and green walls into individual buildings

b District or regional: by connecting green spaces as part of the general

planning guidelines

c System-level: by thinking of and planning green spaces as urban ecosystems

that support biodiversity and serve as key ecological sinks

3.25 Using the above framework to conceptualise how to promote urban biodiversity

entails that we consider issues such as:

a Delaying development within contiguous nature areas to reduce

degradation and fragmentation;

b Providing designated buffer areas for the forests and Nature Reserves, or

gazetting additional Nature Reserves, to either fill the gaps caused by

fragmentation or act as buffers from other developments; or

c Utilising brown-field sites and reclaimed lands for future developments

instead of biodiversity areas.

We believe that our biodiversity areas would benefit from being left as natural

as possible. If they really have to be developed, we hope that measures can

be put in place to protect their biodiversity as much as possible, and that such

development can be done with a light touch.

27 28

Improve accessibility for all

3.34 Our parks and greenery make Singapore distinctive as a garden city. To allow

more people to enjoy what Singapore has to offer, we should encourage more

people to visit our parks by introducing more basic facilities such as restrooms, rest points and shelters, especially with our ageing population in mind. We

should also allow more people to enjoy our rich biodiversity with more treetop

walks and boardwalks. For long trails, such as those along the Southern Ridges

and park connectors, the user’s experience could be enhanced if interesting

features, lookouts or observation spots were introduced at more frequent

intervals. However, a balance needs to be struck between enhancing

accessibility to parks and nature areas for public enjoyment, and protecting

natural biodiversity. This can be done by having restricted access to sensitive

core biodiversity areas while allowing other areas to be accessible to the

public.

3.35 To enhance access to parks and nature areas, alternative transport modes

such as trams can be explored, so as to encourage people to use more efficient

and cleaner modes of transport rather than cars to get to parks. More bicycle

lots and shelters can also be provided to cater to those who cycle.

3.36 We also have a comprehensive park connector network which we can tap

on to make our parks more accessible. The park connector network should also be enhanced to provide better accessibility not only to parks but also to other town facilities to link up the whole town. Park connectors can also be

enhanced and used as links to MRT stations by commuters within attractive

and green settings.

3.37 Commuter links within the town should also be developed with green foliage

cover to cool such access routes. In developing new town facilities (such as

libraries and hospitals), we should also ensure that these are well-integrated

with existing town facilities and community spaces. For example, Khoo Teck

Puat Hospital in Yishun is integrated with Yishun Pond and the surrounding

neighbourhoods, hence creating a seamless connection with the rest of the

town and providing spaces for use by the wider community.

and “collectibles showcases” in relevant places to raise awareness of and to

promote the value of arts and heritage around Singapore.

3.31 The same goes for our natural heritage. We should raise public awareness

of our terrestrial and marine habitats, as this will go a long way in promoting

public appreciation of our rich biodiversity and ensuring that our nature areas

will continue to hold relevance to our people. For example, it will be useful

to publish key information on our Nature Reserves and Nature Areas (e.g.

location, size, flora and fauna present, and threats to these areas) to create

greater public awareness and support for biodiversity conservation.

3.32 Parks need to be enhanced to become more experiential, providing visitors with different experiences that connect them with the parks. For example,

Admiralty Park in Woodlands has adopted a maritime theme with features to

showcase Singapore’s rich maritime history. Partners from surrounding schools

and residents as well as businesses can become partners of such programmes,

for example, through an expanded “adopt a park” scheme. Heritage or

cultural elements can also be integrated into parks where relevant, such as at

Bukit Chandu and Fort Canning Park. Information pamphlets on parks can also

be customised to highlight the different interesting features of different parks

as well as to include essential information on park amenities. Where relevant,

plaques can be placed in parks to let people know about the historical

significance of the park. Pamphlets and plaques are already provided in many

parks, but again, this effort can be more integrated and comprehensive than it

currently is.

3.33 Park signage can be further customised to meet the needs of different park

users. For example, one set of signs can show basic information for visitors with

little time, and another set can show more detailed information for those who

are interested to know more.

29 30

3.41 Town squares, void decks and community gathering spaces could be retained or re-introduced within public housing estates to promote social interaction and vibrancy. Most of the towns may not have a plaza space within their town centres like the one in Toa Payoh Town Centre. Town squares could be retained in rejuvenation plans to provide space for people to gather and interact. Void decks also serve as important areas for community interactions among residents.

INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY IN SHAPING AN ENDEARING SINGAPORE

Seek greater involvement of local communities, schools, stakeholders and NGOs in designing and managing endearing spaces

3.42 We all have a role to play in cherishing and safeguarding our shared built and natural heritage. We should continue to engage our local communities and stakeholders in cherishing and safeguarding our built and natural heritage, including the cultivation of a friendly and safe environment through mutual help, respect and concern.

3.43 More concerted engagement of schools and NGOs is needed to strengthen local identities. Partnerships should be actively encouraged with a diversity of interest groups, both those located in the neighbourhood and those that have special interests in the subject or place, not just in the management of infrastructure but also in the planning of programmes, events and activities.

3.44 For example, NParks can focus on providing the basic facilities, such as restrooms, rest points and signage in parks, while its partners could provide other facilities or programmes. For instance, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) worked with NParks to place a model of the Dragon’s Teeth Gate in Labrador Park to highlight the historical significance of the area29. NParks can also further engage NGOs like NSS to develop walking guides for parks and to help guide visitors to the parks. The “Adopt a Park” scheme can be expanded to encourage businesses and community organisations to take ownership of parks.

3.45 Residents can also be encouraged to take ownership of common spaces in public housing estates. For example, they can volunteer to maintain those spaces. Similarly, a community task force can be set up to help monitor and police the state of heritage areas.

Inject greater vibrancy for unique experiences

3.38 To enhance our experience of our natural and built heritage, we should inject

greater vibrancy into these areas through the introduction of new facilities

and activities. By doing so, these places will become an important part of

people’s daily lives. For example, we can bring back more life to our heritage districts by introducing more live-in population, with the aim of enhancing

the authenticity of life in these districts. For example, we observed that the

presence of a live-in population in Little India contributes to its vibrancy, as

compared to other less populated historic districts such as Kampong Glam.

We can also ‘pedestrianise’ more streets in areas rich in heritage, art and culture, such as Haji Lane in Kampong Glam or small streets in Little India, to

allow these places to blossom and become even more vibrant.

3.39 Our parks can also be made more lively by introducing more amenities and

facilities, such as food outlets and activity spaces, to attract more visitors.

However, we feel that a measured approach should be adopted in introducing

commercial uses in parks, as these uses may sometimes compromise the

character of parks even as they add life to them. Hence, while we should

continue to improve the park environment in terms of facilities and activities,

the pace of change should be moderated. For example, instead of having an open tender to select the highest bidder for commercial uses in parks, operators should be selected more carefully and incentives provided to attract the best-suited operators. Subsidies may be considered for institutional uses such as arts

and culture, and community uses can be housed within park settings instead

of awarding purely commercial uses to the highest bidder. This is to ensure

that the activities complement the character of the environment and that the

proposed business models are financially (and culturally) sustainable.

3.40 Activities and events that complement the character of parks and waterbodies

should be developed, such as outdoor activities like tree climbing, art exhibits

and cultural performances, to inject more life into these areas. For example,

Dhoby Ghaut Green will be used by the School of the Arts (SOTA) as a

performance space, while Bedok Reservoir Park is currently used for outdoor

and sports activities. We can also consider allowing an operator to provide a

solar-powered ferry service serving Kallang, Singapore Indoor Stadium, Tanjong

Rhu and the Fullerton. This can become an iconic ride like the Staten Island

Ferry in New York or the Manly Ferry in Sydney.

29 National Heritage Board, “Batu Berlayar/Dragon’s Teeth Gate/Lot’s Wife”, heritagetrails.sg, 2009, <http://heritagetrails.sg/content/670/Batu_Berlayar_Dragon_s_Teeth_Gate_Lot_s_Wife. html>

31 32

CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSION

With strategic government policies coupled with active community participation, Singapore will be on track to become a sustainable city and an endearing home for all.

4.1 In summary, our Focus Group has recommended two key sets of suggestions.

First, we have highlighted the importance of building a sustainable city given

the challenges posed by climate change. To do so, we have called for a

strengthening of our green infrastructure, such as by taking a green lifecycle

approach to buildings and improving the provision of physical facilities to

encourage environmentally friendly lifestyle practices like the use of public

transport and recycling. We have also proposed initiatives to cultivate more

sharing and ownership of sustainable practices by the community, such as by

providing and promoting more opportunities for people to directly contribute

to taking care of our living environment (e.g. via community gardening), as well

as by recognising and rewarding environmental role models for their efforts.

4.2 Second, we have put forward ideas on making Singapore an endearing home.

We have emphasised the need to cherish and safeguard both our built and

natural heritage. This includes our historic districts and monuments, local areas

of identity and iconic structures, public housing estates, parks, waterbodies

and natural biodiversity. Besides conservation, we also propose people-centric

strategies to enhance the experience of our heritage, raise awareness of these

endearing places, improve accessibility, and offer unique experiences for both

residents and visitors. To connect people with our endearing places, we require

greater community engagement and stakeholder participation in designing

and managing these places.

4.3 We hope that these recommendations will help URA and other agencies plan

and design Singapore’s future, as well as lay the groundwork for future public

engagement. Our Focus Group believes that managing the impacts of climate

change, ensuring sustainable development and strengthening our people’s

sense of belonging are important issues for Singapore, because these issues

deeply impact the future of our city, our homes and generations of people. We

also recognise that, as members of the community, we constitute a link in the

public-private-people partnership for Singapore to develop into a sustainable

city and an endearing home for all. Over the course of the past four months,

3.46 Extending arts outreach programmes to the heartlands to involve the community will also pay rich dividends. Such initiatives will help to enhance community bonding and a sense of belonging to their estates.

Develop greater stakeholder participation in place management

3.47 The endearing qualities of a place take time to evolve, and it requires the support

of local stakeholders such as residents, businesses and visitors. The Government

should play a role to kickstart the process through place management efforts

which bring together the relevant stakeholders to create vibrant and distinctive

places through activities that activate, promote and market these places in

which they have a stake. Such places include Marina Bay, the Singapore River,

Orchard Road and the historic districts.

3.48 However, while there is a role for the Government to initiate place management

efforts to actively guide the development of historic districts, we should

encourage the community and private sector to take greater initiative and

ownership of their historic districts. For a start, government agencies could work with local stakeholders and set up a framework for place management for selected areas. Over the medium term, the local stakeholders can expand

their role in managing, defining and guiding the evolution of these areas.

3.49 It will also be useful to formalise channels for stakeholders to submit feedback

and track the follow-up actions taken, as well as to publicise channels for the

public to report on activities and infringements that may tarnish the character

and charm of heritage areas. As the issues may touch on multiple legislations, it

would be useful for the community to engage with one coordinating authority

when providing feedback.

3.50 In such ways, place management of significant places can help to ensure that

they grow and evolve in a manner that is acceptable to more stakeholders

and interested parties. The role of the place manager will become increasingly

important as more and more differing views need to be balanced against

each other and as stakeholdership expands both in scope and activity.

33 34

ANNEX A: SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS

Meeting Schedule

1st meeting23 Jan 2010 (Sat)9.30am-1.00pmThe URA Centre

Launch of Public ConsultationBriefing by URA on land use planning in Singapore, •Concept Plan 2011 Review process and public consultation programmeGeneral discussion of Focus Group’s Terms of Reference•

2nd meeting26 Jan 2010 (Tue)7.00pm-9.00pmThe URA Centre

Sustainable Communities: Individuals, Households and Community Groups

Briefing on community initiatives to promote sustainable •development under IMCSD – CDCs, schools, NGOsSharing session by South West CDC on their activities to •raise environmental awareness among residentsDiscussion on how individuals, households, and •community groups can contribute to sustainable development

3rd meeting9 Feb 2010 (Tue)7.00pm-9.30pmThe URA Centre

Sustainable Communities:Businesses and the Private Sector

Briefing on IMCSD private sector initiatives to promote •sustainable development by MEWRBriefing on Green Building Masterplan by BCA•Briefing on green transport initiatives and ways to •promote public transport by LTADiscussion on how businesses and the private sector can •contribute to sustainable development, and promote usage of public transport

4th meeting6 Mar 2010 (Sat)2.45pm- 6.00pmThe URA Centre, Little India, Kampong Glam

Introduction to Endearing Home and Discussion on Historic Districts

Introductory briefing by URA on existing strategies to •strengthen identity and sense of belonging in Singapore and relevant Lifestyle Survey resultsBriefing on URA’s conservation programme and briefings •on Kampong Glam and Little India Site visit to Little India: Buffalo Road, Tekka Market, Clive •Street, and Weld RoadSite visit to Kampong Glam: Istana Kampong Glam, •Sultan Mosque, Bussorah Street, Beach Road, Arab Street, Haji Lane, and Kandahar Street

5th meeting11 Mar 2010 (Thu)7.00pm-9.30pmThe URA Centre

Combined Focus Group sessionUpdate by the secretariats of the Focus Group on •Quality of Life and Focus Group on Sustainability & Identity on both groups’ discussions to dateSharing on findings from URA’s Online Survey 2010•Discussion on both Focus Groups’ ideas and URA’s •Online Survey 2010 results

we were encouraged to hear views from many members of the public who

are passionate about their neighbourhoods and the future of Singapore. While

we recognise the Government and the private sector for their policies and

programmes, we also call on the rest of the community to become even more

active in the collective effort of making Singapore a home we are proud of.

4.5 The Focus Group discussions have highlighted some of the complexities in

deliberating on Singapore’s future, and allowed the exchange of ideas and

useful insights. It has been a fruitful, engaging and worthwhile journey, and we

hope URA and other government agencies will continue to engage the wider

community in policymaking.

35 36

AN

NEX

B: S

UM

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Meeting Schedule

6th meeting17 Mar 2010 (Wed)7.00pm-9.30pmThe URA Centre

Making Singapore an Endearing Home: Historic Districts and Local Areas of Identity

Discussion on 6 Mar site visit to historic districts and local •areas of identity

7th meeting20 Mar 2010 (Sat)8.30am-1.00pmSouthern Ridges, Labrador Park, Hort Park

Making Singapore an Endearing Home: GreenerySite visits to Southern Ridges and Labrador Park •Discussion at Hort Park•

8th meeting27 Mar 2010 (Sat)2.00pm-6.00pmKhoo Teck Puat Hospital, Changi Village

Making Singapore an Endearing Home: Heartland HeritageBriefings and site visit at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital•Briefings and site visit at Changi Village•

9th meeting30 Mar 2010 (Tue)7.00pm-9.00pmThe URA Centre

Making Singapore an Endearing Home- Heartland HeritageDiscussion on 27 Mar site visit on heartland heritage•

10th meeting6 Apr 2010 (Tue)7.00pm-9.30pmThe URA Centre

Discussion on Land Use Planning Approach for Singapore’s Natural Heritage

Sharing on the Singapore Blue Plan (by Mr Francis Lee)•Sharing on existing nature conservation efforts in •Singapore (by NParks)Sharing on land-use planning considerations and •approach for natural heritage in Singapore (by URA)Discussion •

Preparation of Focus Group reportRecap of draft Focus Group findings•Discussion•

11th meeting15 Apr 2010 (Thu)7.00pm-9.00pmThe URA Centre

Preparation of Focus Group reportDiscussion on Focus Group report and Public Forum•

12th meeting26 Apr 2010 (Mon)7.00pm-9.00pmThe URA Centre

Preparation for Public ForumDiscussion on presentation of Focus Group •recommendations at Public Forum

Public Forum6 May 2010 (Thu)6.30pm-8.30pmThe URA Centre

Focus Group’s presentation of recommendations•Discussion with public•

37 38

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rave

llato

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nc

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rag

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alk

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in t

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city

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op

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ironm

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ou

rag

e t

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use

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ve

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pla

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ch

as

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land

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ast

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at

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re

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ffort

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co

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ash

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en

tive

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co

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om

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ch

em

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nerg

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our

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arg

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do

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pro

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pe

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nce

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uilt

and

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r cu

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alo

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ca

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ls su

ch

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mun

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pin

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ten

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an

ag

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ea

rtla

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on

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keh

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be

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velo

pin

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co

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om

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tions

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ut

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rrid

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mo

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inte

rac

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on

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g a

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ng

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nc

e t

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tity

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ea

ch

to

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ere

ntia

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sign

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p a

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use

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ity in

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ew

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