Concept Plan 2011 focus group reveals draft suggestions

Mustafa Shafawi/Satish Cheney Channel NewsAsia 6 May 10;

SINGAPORE: Public transport, walking or cycling should be the default means to get around in Singapore.

The recommendation was part of a two-pronged strategy proposed by a focus group on the Concept Plan 2011 to make Singapore an endearing and green home for all.

To discourage private transport, it said carpark lots should be reduced and higher parking fees be levied in the city.

"The important thing about car parking is that it is a possible way of regulating the use of private cars, because if you have difficulty in parking a car in a certain part of the city, and there's a very good public transport system, you may just consider using public transport," said Ong Keng Yong, co-chairman of the focus group on "Sustainability and Identity" and director of the Institute of Policy Studies.

The focus group said the government should include sustainability building considerations as a criterion for the award of land tenders.

Programmes to promote a green mindset and raise public awareness about recycling and reducing wastes should be strengthened.

In making Singapore an endearing home, the focus group felt that a Heritage Charter be introduced.

"It's basically to try and build a consensus among all the stakeholders in a particular district as to how to cherish, safeguard the things we love in that district," said Lee Tzu Yang, co-chairman of focus group on "Sustainability and Identity" and chairman of Shell Singapore.

The charter should be jointly formulated by the public, private and people sectors.

To enrich the experience of Singapore's built and natural heritage, it recommends that more people have homes in the heritage districts.

The focus group also said there must be greater community involvement in shaping an endearing Singapore.

With this in mind, schools and non-government organisations need to work with local communities to strengthen the local identity.

The focus group is one of two groups appointed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

The recommendations are being put up for public comment, after which the focus group will fine-tune its recommendations before making its submission to the URA.

The submission will be taken into account in drawing up the Concept Plan 2011, which maps out the long term directions for Singapore's land use and transportation plans over the next 40 to 50 years.

- CNA/ir

Lanes, lots for cyclists
And fewer car park spots among URA focus group's recommendations
Ong Dai Lin, Today Online 7 May 10;

SINGAPORE - Some of their suggestions echoed popular calls that have been rejected time and again by the Government; other proposals may be downright unpopular, admitted the focus group appointed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to review its Concept Plan 2011.

Either way, green transport will have a key role in building a sustainable city, said the 30-member group.

For one, a dedicated bicycle lane network is necessary, and Ambassador Ong Keng Yong, co-chair of the group and director of the Institute of Policy Studies, hopes the Government will act on the suggestion even though this has been raised unsuccessfully in the past.

There should also be more and better secured parking facilities for bicycles, as well as changing facilities for cyclists.

Private transport, on the other hand, should be discouraged by reducing the number of car parking lots or by charging higher parking fees in the city and town centres.

Mr Lee Tzu Yang, the group co-chair and chairman of Shell Companies in Singapore, told reporters the measures may be unpopular but were targeted ways to limit traffic flow into certain areas.

He said: "Everybody supports the use of public transport; they just want somebody else to use the public transport."

The group said that lower public transport fares as well as more convenient, comfortable and frequent buses and trains would make a difference. For example, season passes for unlimited travel across different transport modes can be introduced, and economical shuttle services to MRT or LRT stations can be provided.

The carrot-and-stick approach should also apply to waste reduction and recycling, recommended the group - one of two appointed in January to discuss issues in the URA's Concept Plan, which maps out the long-term direction for land use and transportation in Singapore.

Higher waste-disposal fees - tied to the amount of trash collected from each household - can help reduce wastage, for example, while recycling facilities could be located at public transport nodes with rebates on public transport fares to encourage recycling.

This was the first time the group, which is looking into sustainability and identity, was presenting its draft recommendations. Six members, including the co-chairs, met 200 people in a forum as part of URA's overall public consultation exercise.

One member of the public, Mr Jeffrey Chong, asked if the panel - which included Nature Society president Shawn Lum, South West Community Development Council member Tiew Chee Meng and National University Singapore geography department chief Shirlena Huang - had considered introducing urban farming.

Mr Tiew said land scarcity in Singapore was an obstacle, and a green spirit must first be inculcated in Singaporeans.

After seeking the public's feedback, the focus group will fine-tune its recommendations before submitting its final report to URA, which reviews its Concept Plan once every 10 years. The current review is scheduled to be completed next year.

Meanwhile, the other focus group looking into quality of life and ageing will present its recommendations on Monday.

The public can give their feedback on yesterday's preliminary recommendations at spring.ura.gov.sg/conceptplan2011/publicforum.

Heritage Charters to help preserve historic districts
Ong Dai Lin Today Online 7 May 10;

To preserve the heritage of historic districts, Heritage Charters can be drawn up to guide the kinds of activities and uses allowed in these areas. These can be formulated jointly by the public, private and people sectors, said Mr Lee Tzu Yang, co-chair of the focus group appointed to look into the issue.

There is also a need to develop more iconic structures to give each area in Singapore a distinct identity, the focus group said.

As more than 80 per cent of Singaporeans live in public housing estates, significant buildings and structures - including town centres, wet markets and schools - should be retained even as neighbourhoods are redeveloped. The group also suggested that more signage and storyboards, including audio features, be introduced in historic districts to raise awareness of their significance. Community groups and educational centres can conduct walking tours in these districts.

Meanwhile, Singapore's parks - especially those of greater significance - should be designated "National Parks", which should have more basic facilities such as restrooms and shelters.

These recommendations were discussed last night at a public forum. Participant Lee Yi Peng, the eldest son of the Prime Minister, asked focus group members if there was a risk of damaging heritage and nature areas if they are made accessible to the public.

Mr Ganesh Kalyanam, director for capability development at the centre for culture and communication at Republic Polytechnic, said the authorities do make sure nature areas are not endangered when they are made accessible.

URA focus group shares suggestions
Uma Shankari, Business Times 7 May 10;

A FOCUS group set up to look at sustainability and identity issues for the Concept Plan 2011 recommends that Singapore aim to be 'environmentally and socially sustainable'.

The group, set up by the Urban Redevelopment Authority in January, announced its draft recommendations and sought public feedback on them at a forum yesterday.

The recommendations have two main thrusts: building a sustainable city and making Singapore an endearing home.

Under the first key thrust, the group wants stronger 'green' infrastructure and greater sharing and ownership of sustainable practices.

This can include reviewing the land tender system to include criteria to encourage developers to incorporate more green features in their projects, and establishing an island-wide waste-reduction and recycling programme.

The focus group also advocates promoting environmentally friendly transport and reviewing car parking policies to discourage the use of private transport - for example, by reducing the number of car parking lots or charging higher car parking fees in the city and town centres.

Ong Keng Yong, co-chairman of the focus group and director of the Institute of Policy Studies, said a 'holistic' blueprint - rather than a 'piecemeal' approach - is needed to make Singapore sustainable.

Under the second key thrust - making Singapore an endearing home - the focus group asks the government to safeguard the island's built and natural heritage, including historic districts such as Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India, monuments such as the old Supreme Court and City Hall and natural areas such as Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Pulau Ubin.

The focus group also wants to enhance people's experience of Singapore's built and natural heritage and involve the community in shaping an endearing Singapore. It recommends greater involvement of local communities, schools, stakeholders and NGOs in designing and managing 'endearing' spaces.

'It's to try to build a consensus among all the stakeholders in a particular area on how to cherish, safeguard the things we love in that district,' said Lee Tzu Yang, co-chairman of the focus group and chairman of Shell Singapore.

The public feedback sought by URA will be considered by the focus group for incorporation in its final report.

Budding ideas on greening buildings, keeping heritage alive
Jessica Cheam & Lee Yen Nee, Straits Times 7 May 10;

IDEAS on how to ensure Singapore becomes a green and endearing home for its residents were unveiled by a focus group yesterday at a public forum.

Key recommendations by the 30-member group included an emphasis on greening buildings from the design stage right through the building's 'life cycle', to creating a heritage charter on activities allowed in heritage areas.

The members are from various local communities and were appointed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

Yesterday's forum was part of the URA's review of the Concept Plan 2011, which maps out directions for Singapore's land use and transport for the next 40 to 50 years.

Co-chair ambassador Ong Keng Yong of the Institute of Policy Studies said Singapore needed to further green its infrastructure to ensure sustainability.

One key idea to emerge from the four months of discussions was to adopt a 'life cycle' approach to buildings, starting from the design stage, he said.

The group suggested that Singapore implement more policies and incentives to encourage the 'greening' of buildings, including considering sustainability as a criterion for the award of land tenders.

Other ideas included encouraging owners to retrofit existing buildings with green features.

'It's important we have a mindset change to these activities,' Mr Ong told the 200-strong forum at the URA Centre in Maxwell Road.

The other co-chair, Mr Lee Tzu Yang, chairman of Shell Companies in Singapore, emphasised that keeping the nation's heritage alive was key to fostering a feeling of belonging.

'Everyone wants a place they belong to, that's no argument. The tensions during discussions was on the pace of change, and whether in the process, we lose the things we have,' he said.

The group suggested keeping certain key areas 'relevant for the young and old'. For example, the proposed heritage charter would be jointly created by the public, private and community sectors to guide the types of activities and uses allowed in heritage areas, he said.

Other recommendations included keeping significant buildings, iconic structures and spaces in housing estates as 'physical anchors of our collective social memories'.

People at the forum generally agreed with the focus group's recommendations but suggested various improvements. One idea thrown up called for the Green Mark scheme for green buildings to be enhanced to assess the life cycle impact of buildings.