Reclaimed ‘Long Island’ off East Coast could be about twice the size of Marina Bay: Desmond Lee
The recommended Long Island will integrate seaside security measures with future reclamation programs for the location, in view of the extended influence of environment difference that includes rising water level. “Mean sea levels across Singapore are predicted to rise by up to 1m by the end of this century. When full tides accompany thunderstorm rises, sea levels might rise by as much as 4 to 5m over mean sea level. This is an extremely considerable concern, because about one-third of our island is beneath 5m above mean sea level, and at risk of being inundated by the sea,” Minister Lee details.
Speaking at a habitat improvement activity at East Coast Park held on Nov 28, Minister Lee notes that the project would certainly create opportunities for future generations of Singapore. “They can develop homes, produce jobs, develop support services and amenities that they need, and include around 20 km of new seaside and reservoir parks, expanding from the present East Coast Park,” he includes.
The idea of Long Island would “project coastal projection seawards”, allowing the presenting East Coast Park to be maintained largely in its present state, Minister Lee says. It will also create a covered waterbody, which will emerge as a freshwater basin with time, adding to Singapore’s water system while furthermore being an area the public can utilize for water events.
Around 800ha throughout three regions of land might potentially be recovered off East Coast Park in near future decades, offering location for new homes and facilities. Called “Long Island”, the land would certainly be approximately two times the dimension of Marina Bay, says Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration.
Technical researches will definitely be carried out to evaluate the workability of the program, with the researches expected to take around five years. At the same time, residents and stakeholders will most likely be connected to offer comments and strategies on the plan. Given the range of the development, full preparation and execution of Long Island “will take decades”, Minister Lee says.
Regardless, the future property developments on Long Island will likely work for present nonpublic projects along the East Coast, the majority of which are freehold, Huttons’ Lee completes. “It may perhaps even boost the possibility for en-bloc down the road.”
Lee Sze Teck, top director of data analytics at Huttons Asia, estimates that at 800ha, Long Island would certainly be comparable in size to the Kallang-Whampoa estate and could possibly house between 30,000 and 60,000 new homes with a good mix of industrial, leisure and green components.
He continues: “The opportunities of creating a second Sentosa are low as the government intends to develop an inclusive community enabling every person access to great homes and not just for the rich.” He also sees that the program will certainly trigger further investment right into transport connection, with the possibility for an MRT or LRT expansion to expand from the Thomson-East Coast Line to Long Island.
” It is very likely that the allotment for public housing will be greater than private real estate on Long Island,” Huttons’ Lee says, adding that the HDB condos will very likely be introduced either under the Prime or Plus model.
