Will new Jurong Lake be eco-friendly?

Charlotte Leong (Ms), Straits Times Forum 14 Oct 08;

SINCE the unveiling of plans for Jurong Lake District during the launch of the Draft Masterplan 2008 in May, some ground works have started near Chinese Garden MRT station.

A nature lover and frequent visitor to Jurong Lake, I enjoyed seeing aquatic animals in their natural habitat in the past. However, the water is now brown and murky, possibly due to an increase in sedimentation from the ground works.

This is not confined to the area near the ground works, but extends to the lake in and around Chinese Garden and Japanese Garden. The change in the environment would negatively affect the ecosystem of these aquatic animals and I am concerned about their ability to adapt and survive.

While I am impressed by the plans for Jurong Lake District, I wonder if such transformations come at a cost to the ecosystem and current environment of aquatic animals. I would like to know what measures the authorities have taken to ensure that the transformation of the Jurong Lake area is not at a cost to the environment and aquatic ecosystem. While economic and social goals are important, one should take care that the environment is not negatively affected.

Related article

Hundreds of fish dead at Jurong Lake
Zaihan Mohamed Yusof, The New Paper 13 Oct 08;