Farmstay Singapore: Lim Chu Kang gets the three-star treatment

Cara van Miriah, New Paper 14 Jan 08;

YOU don't have to travel to Australia for a farmstay vacation.

By September, you will be able book one of the 20 farm villas at Lim Chu Kang's new agri-tainment site off Neo Tiew Road.

This Singapore farm hotel will come with room service, housekeeping and spa-on-demand services.

Visitors will also be able to wine, dine, and shop at the agri-tainment farm.

It will have retail outlets, a restaurant with about 7,000 sq ft of outdoor space and a 6,000 sq ft beer garden.

The 547,883 sq ft attraction - about the size of six football fields - is the largest agri-tainment farm in Lim Chu Kang.

It is being developed by HLH Agri R & D, a subsidiary of mainboard-listed PDC Corp.

HLH is among the largest commercial corn producers in Asia.

In December 2006, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) awarded HLH one of the first three agri-tainment land parcels in Lim Chu Kang at $880,000 on a 20-year lease.

Giving The New Paper on Sunday a preview, Dato Johnson Ong, deputy chairman of HLH Group, said: 'Each air-conditioned villa will have a balcony, which overlooks the two-hectare tropical fruit plantation. The toilets will have a sky view as they are partially sheltered.'

Besides the lifestyle offerings, a research and development centre for corn and other agricultural products will be built and used as an educational showcase for visitors.

Beverage company Super Coffeemix has sealed a deal with PDC to showcase coffee production methods at the research centre.

There will be no admission fee to the yet-to-be-named agri-tainment farm, which aims to draw 300,000 to 500,000 visitors annually.

Dato Ong said the entire development is estimated to cost $10 million.

About half of the construction work has been completed.

The firm said it expects to hire about 200 people to work at the farm.

The new development will further inject buzz to Lim Chu Kang.

There are more than 10 farms there now.

Farms under the Kranji Countryside Association include Neo Tiew Road's Bollywood Veggies, run by former Netball Singapore president Ivy Singh-Lim.

Visitors can dine at its bistro, Poison Ivy, go on farm tours and shop for fresh vegetables.

There is also the Petals and Leaves Bistro at Nyee Phoe Flower Garden.

The New Paper on Sunday understands that landscape company Nyee Phoe Group will be launching four kampung-style chalets in Neo Tiew Crescent this year.

And Yoli Technologies, which won the bid for two other plots of land - with a total land area of almost 296,000 sq ft - in Lim Chu Kang in 2006, will develop them for agri-tainment purposes.

Said Mr Teo Jing Kok, SLA's deputy director of land sales: 'The entrepreneurs who tendered for the sites were willing to try out something new and different to make Singapore a more exciting place to live, work and play in.'They are taking bold initiatives to help turn Lim Chu Kang into a rustic recreational hinterland.'

This is HLH's first foray into the lifestyle and hospitality business, although Dato Ong earlier ran a fish farm in Sungei Tengah Road for three years.

He recalled: 'Then, I couldn't offer even food and drinks for visitors at the fish farm because the land was solely meant for agriculture use.

LIVING ON A FARM

'At Lim Chu Kang, I wanted more than just a dining experience. So we decided to build the villas where people can also enjoy the experience of living on a farm without travelling out of Singapore.'

HLH's villas also come with a private car porch each.

Guests who arrive by car can check-in at a drive-through point at the main entrance before driving to the villa and parking there.

Said Dato Ong: 'It will be a three-star hotel - without the swimming pool and tennis courts.'

The rates, however, will not be cheap. Each night will be priced from at least $150, excluding taxes. But Dato Ong is confident the villas will enjoy a 'good pick-up rate'.

He explained: 'I think the concept of living on a local farm will appeal to Singaporeans and tourists.

'There will be much to do and see at Lim Chu Kang.'

GO NATURAL

AERO-GREEN
260 Neo Tiew Crescent
Tel: 67924298
www.aerogreentech.com.sg

BOLLYWOOD VEGGIES
100 Neo Tiew Road.
Tel: 68985001
www.bollywoodveggies.com

FIRE FLIES HEALTH FARM
62, Lot 75 Lim Chu Kang Lane 2.
Tel: 67937875
www.fireflies.sg

HAUSMANN AQUARIUM
291 Lot 113, Neo Tiew Crescent.
Tel: 67921318
www.hausmann-aqua.com

HAY DAIRIES
3 Lim Chu Kang Lane 4
Tel: 67920931
www.haydairies.com.sg

JURONG FROG FARM
56 Lim Chu Kang Lane 6.
Tel: 67917229
www.jurongfrogfarm.com.sg

KHAISENG FISH FARM
181 Neo Tiew Road.
Tel: 67937789
www.khaiseng.com.sg

KIN YAN AGROTECH
No. 220 Neo Tiew Crescent
Tel: 67948368
www.kinyan.biz

MAX KOI FARM
251 Neo Tiew Crescent.
Tel: 6862-6363.
www.maxkoifarm.com

NYEE PHOE
240 Neo Tiew Crescent
Tel: 67936500
www.nyeephoe.com
www.gardenasia.com

THOW KWANG INDUSTRY
85 Lorong Tawas
Tel: 62655808
www.tkpotteryjungle.com

SPRING ORCHARD
1 Lim Chu Kang Lane 4
Tel: 63101884
www.springorchard.com.sg

SUNGEI BULOH WETLAND RESERVE
301 Neo Tiew Crescent
Tel: 67941401
www.sbwr.org.sg