Channel NewsAsia 18 Nov 07
SINGAPORE: Exciting plans such as a 4.9km waterfront promenade from Punggol Point to Sungei Serangoon are in store for Punggol residents.
With the new waterfront promenade, residents can expect sea sport activities and dining facilities. Punggol Point will also be transformed with a 0.6-ha park that includes facilities for cycling and jogging. Visitors can also enjoy the scenery from a vantage lookout point at the tiered boardwalk.
Punggol Point is already a popular spot for recreational activities like fishing and camping.
With more facilities coming up, such as a food and beverage establishment as well as a horse-riding centre, more people are expected to flock there to enjoy its rustic charms.
The promenade will connect two proposed recreational clusters at Punggol Point and along Sungei Serangoon.
There will also be park connectors along Sungei Serangoon and Sungei Punggol.
Together, they will complete the entire waterfront promenade loop around Punggol – from Sengkang to Punggol Park – thus providing a continuous walk along the Punggol coastline.
These plans were revealed at a community event by Defence Minister and MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, Mr Teo Chee Hean, on Sunday.
He said: "There are a lot of young families here and some of them are already adventurous. They walk along the coastline, there's a bit of track but not a lot of facilities there. This will enhance the accessibility and make it a more interesting and exciting place for them."
Residents are also looking forward to the makeover.
One of the Punggol residents, Cindy Ong, said: "My block is facing the Coney Island directly, so it has quite a nice scenery. I look forward to the new infrastructure."
"The prices (of flats) over here will increase and the people living around here will be happier," said Alvin Yeow.
Another Punggol resident, Vo Thanh Dang, said: "This idea is very good and it provides residents with a good and relaxing place."
Construction of the promenade will begin next year and will be completed by 2010.
Mr Teo also revealed that the Sengkang Sports Complex is near completion and residents can enjoy facilities such as gymnasium, swimming pools, dance studios and a riverfront cafe from next year.
And for Pasir Ris residents, the location of the upcoming Pasir Ris Complex has been formalised and it will be built near the Pasir Ris MRT Station.- CNA/so
Ride horses, golf, fish - all in Punggol
Straits Times 18 Nov 07;
PUNGGOL residents will soon have more waterfront activities at their doorstep with a $13 million plan to redevelop part of the surrounding coastline.
They will be able to walk along a 4.9km stretch of coast - from Punggol Point to Sungei Serangoon - and get closer to the water.
Activities such as horse-riding, golf, and fishing will also feature in the area.
This was unveiled on Sunday by Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is also an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.
He said adventurous young families had already taken to walking along the coast, largely made up of reclaimed land and interrupted by several drainage outlets.
'There's a little bit of a track, but not a lot of other facilities. This will enhance accessibility,' he told reporters.
The developments are part of the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) Parks and Waterbodies and Identity Plans drawn up in 2002.
It singled out five coastal areas in Changi, Pasir Ris, Coney Island, Pulau Ubin and Punggol Point to develop them as recreational destinations.
The waterfront promenade in Punggol has three segments -
# Punggol Point Walk: Punggol Point, a popular fishing and Nature Walk: A 2.4km nature trail will be created along the coast between Punggol Point and Sungei Serangoon
# Riverside Walk: A promenade will be built along a 1.3km stretch of Sungei Serangoon to make the riverfront more accessible.
The 4.9km promenade will link two proposed sports and recreational clusters at Punggol Point and Sungei Serangoon, as well as to new park connectors along the Punggol and Serangoon rivers planned by the National Parks Board.
When complete, it will be possible to walk along the entire Punggol coastline.
Construction will begin mid-next year and the promenade is expected to be ready by 2010. Building works will not not disrupt fishing or other activities there, says the URA, as its plan intends to enhance existing features.
Read the full report in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.
