Makeover for Lower Seletar Reservoir

170m bridge is among new features of the park following $10m upgrading works
Tan Dawn Wei Straits Times 27 Jun 10;

Madam Teresa Lim has always enjoyed taking long strolls by the water at Lower Seletar Reservoir near her Yishun home.

Now, the 63-year-old housewife can venture out over the water, thanks to a new bridge built by national water agency PUB.

The 170m bridge, which extends from the banks of the reservoir, was built at a cost of $10 million, along with other upgrading works at the park. They took two years to complete.

'The view is great; this is well worth the wait,' said the long-time Yishun resident.

The new facilities at the reservoir are part of PUB's Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) programme.

This is a long-term initiative to spruce up Singapore's drains, canals and reservoirs and open up more recreational activities and space for the public.

'We wanted to let residents go as near to the water as possible,' said Mr Goh Chong Hoon, deputy director at PUB's catchment and waterways department.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will be the guest-of-honour at its opening today. The park is the first in north-eastern Singapore to see its makeover completed and features two main sites.

Family Bay comes with a multi- purpose stage with a water play area for children.

Rowers' Bay provides a new location for competitive rowing.

More than 20 projects will be carried out islandwide by 2012 under the first phase of the ABC Waters programme.

Pilot projects at Kolam Ayer, Bedok Reservoir and MacRitchie Reservoir have been completed. Construction for 12 projects is ongoing, with 10 to be completed by the end of the year.

MacRitchie Reservoir was given a new multi-storey carpark, an amenities centre and an improved floating pontoon for kayakers last July.

The second phase of its revamp, which will be done by next year, includes perking up its bandstand, internal roads and footpaths.

Both phases cost nearly $10 million.

Lower Seletar Reservoir also has a garden that collects rain water. It is organically treated through specially selected soil and plants to remove impurities and is eventually used for the park's water features.

PUB launched its ABC Water Design guidelines in June last year to encourage property developers to integrate sustainable water design features like rain gardens in projects.

It is working on an ABC Waters certification programme that will give recognition to public agencies and private developers which do so.