Daryl Chin Straits Times 6 Mar 11;
Keep a lookout for more bird species such as the painted snipe and whistling duck, and a greater biodiversity of flora and fauna, in Singapore's north-east.
Avid bird-watchers and nature buffs will want to do so, now that the new Punggol Promenade and eco-friendly Lorong Halus Wetland are ready. The joint launch yesterday, attended by some 1,000 residents, was part of the Government's efforts to spruce up the north-eastern area.
The promenade, costing $16.7 million and located on the Serangoon Reservoir bank, was built by the Urban Redevelopment Authority to let residents in the area enjoy recreational activities like jogging.
The first phase of construction has been completed and the next will include a sports complex, a driving range and other facilities.
And just 170m across the promenade - linked via a pedestrian bridge - is the Lorong Halus Wetland, a PUB initiative under its Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters project to give the country's waterways and reservoirs a makeover.
Formerly part of a landfill, Lorong Halus has been transformed into an educational site. It is hoped that it will be a sanctuary for plants, birds and wildlife too.
Nature Society president Shawn Lum believes the two new projects are a step in the right direction. 'Previously, this area was an isolated place, so it will be exciting to have residents nearby coming to interact with nature,' he said.
Present at the launch yesterday were students from nearby schools who have adopted the wetland as part of their learning programmes.
Some, like Pawandeep Singh Sekhon, 14, even acted as guides for the day. 'This is such a beautiful place, and I would like to come back as many times as I can and teach people more about it,' said the Punggol Secondary student.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who officiated at the opening, said: 'This goes to show that in Singapore, water is not only a resource, but also an environmental and economic asset.'
Mr Lum added: 'The perennial challenge is getting people to visit and... at the same time not overwhelm the wildlife.'
DPM Teo opens Lor Halus Wetland biodiversity haven
Straits Times 6 Mar 11;
MORE than 1,000 residents gathered for a brisk walk to mark the occasion as Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean officially opened the Lorong Halus Wetland and part of the Punggol Promenade on Saturday.
Located in north-eastern Singapore along the eastern bank of Serangoon Reservoir, Lorong Halus Wetland was transformed from a landfill into an educational site and biodiversity haven for plants, birds and other wildlife.
The project is part of the Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Programme by national water agency PUB. 'The Lorong Halus Wetland will provide a new space for members of the public to enjoy not just the tranquility and greenery of the wetland, but also the new habitat that this wetland has created for birds, butterflies, dragonflies and other wildlife,' said Mr Tan Nguan Sen, PUB's Director of Catchment and Waterways.
The Riverside Walk portion of the 4.9km-long Punggol Promenade was also opened by Mr Teo on Saturday. Envisioned as a rustic promenade, it allows families to enjoy the natural setting of the river banks. It is designed with exercise stations, dedicated bicycle and jogging tracks, as well as lookout points that allow visitors to get closer to the water's edge.
The Punggol Promenade is part of URA's Parks and Waterbodies and Identity Plans. In the plans, the coastal and waterfront areas of Punggol were envisaged as a major recreational and leisure destination for the residents in the north-east of Singapore.
When fully completed at the end of the year, the promenade will provide seamless public access to the entire Punggol waterfront and serve as a recreation corridor to support future waterfront housing and a range of recreation developments.
New wetland and riverfront promenade officially opened
AsiaOne 5 Mar 11;
A NEW eco-friendly wetland and riverfront promenade was officially opened in the north-east region of Singapore on Saturday morning.
Located within the Punggol New Town, the Lorong Halus Wetland and Riverside Walk of the Punggol Promenade will offer residents a range of commercial, social and recreational facilities.
More than 1,000 brisk walkers turned up at 8am to join in the official opening by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who took a tour of the area.
Found along the eastern bank of the Serangoon Reservoir, the Lorong Halus Wetland occupies a section of the old landfill site, and has been transformed into an educational site and a sanctuary for plants, birds and other wildlife.
Using an innovative bio-remediation system, national water agency PUB designed the Lorong Halus Wetland to collect and treat water passing through the former landfill, preventing it from flowing into Serangoon Reservoir.
A rustic trail has been laid out among the reed beds and the ponds, allowing the public to get up close to the wetland system.
Members of the public and residents from Punggol New Town can easily access the wetland via a pedestrian bridge constructed across Serangoon Reservoir.
The Riverside Walk, located on the western bank of the Serangoon reservoir, is part of the larger 4.9 km long Punggol Promenade which is still undergoing development.
When fully completed at the end of this year, the promenade will provide seamless public access to the entire Punggol waterfront and serve as a corridor to support future waterfront housing.
The promenade is designed with exercise stations, dedicated bicycle and jogging tracks, as well as lookout points that allow visitors to get closer to the water's edge.
