Play with water and take in the sights of nature ecosystems at the Alexandra Canal
tay suan chiang Straits Times 26 Mar 11;
Housewife Marie Tan used to look out of her four- room HDB flat in Tanglin Road onto a canal. But since the beginning of the year, that view has changed.
Instead of the utilitarian, dull-looking Alexandra Canal, she now sees a waterway decked out with lush planting. 'The view is much prettier now,' says Mrs Tan, 36.
The new Alexandra Canal was officially opened by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew last Saturday. Its transformation is the latest project to be completed under PUB's Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters programme, which was introduced in 2007.
PUB is the authority in charge of Singapore's waterways. Under the scheme, utilitarian drains, canals and reservoirs are turned into beautiful and clean streams and lakes.
So far, 14 such projects have been completed. Five are underway and will be completed by 2013 (see other story below). PUB will implement more than 100 such projects islandwide in the next 15 to 20 years.
Mr Yap Kheng Guan, a senior director with PUB, says the programme encourages people to 'think about water sustainability and the importance of keeping water clean'.
By bringing people closer to the water, he hopes that they will better appreciate this resource.
Completed projects include improvement works at Bedok Reservoir, where new facilities such as floating decks at the reservoir bank were added.
In the Kolam Ayer housing estate, a 250m stretch of Kallang River was transformed with improved landscaping along the river banks and the addition of a floating deck and a water wheel.
It took PUB 23 months and $34 million to transform the 1.2km stretch of Alexandra Canal, which stretches from Tanglin Road to Delta Road.
A 200m-long portion of the canal near Tanglin Road has been decked over to create a water cascade and water play area. The area also has a bird's-eye view of the revitalised waterway.
'We chose to leave parts of the canal undecked so that visitors can still see the water, which has a calming effect,' says Mr Yap.
The play area lets families dip their toes in the shallow water. 'The water here is constantly kept clean,' says Mr Yap.
In addition, a series of wetlands has been built on the deck area where the public can learn about different wetland systems and plants.
Special plants such as the papyrus reed, cattail and the water lily are grown in the wetlands. These help purify the water that is pumped from the canal - by filtering out sediment and taking in nitrogen and phosphorus - before it is returned to the canal.
Sharp-eyed visitors may even spot dragonflies and damselflies flitting among the plants. 'Their appearance indicates that the water is clean,' says Mr Yap.
Other additions include lookout decks to bring visitors closer to the water. Old metal railings which used to run along the canal's banks have been replaced by more aesthetically pleasing wooden ones.
Near the Delta Road end, a new plaza provides space for gatherings and shelter from the weather.
Barely a week after its official opening, the spruced-up canal looks to be a hit with visitors.
Despite an impending shower on Tuesday evening when Life! visited, joggers were out and about and families were walking their dogs or pushing strollers.
'The waterway is so beautiful, it is hard to believe that it is just a canal,' says retiree Ang Meng Seng, 70, who was there for a jog.
Three Waters projects to enjoy
Three ABC Waters projects were completed in the last nine months.
Lorong Halus Wetland
It is hard to imagine that the Lorong Halus Wetland, with its reed beds and ponds, used to be a landfill.
Part of the landfill, which has not been in use since 1999, was turned into a $45-million wetland that took three years to complete. It opened earlier this month.
The wetland collects and treats water passing through the former landfill, preventing it from flowing into Serangoon Reservoir which is adjacent to it.
Visitors can get close to the reed beds, which help purify the water, along a specially constructed rustic trail.
Sengkang Floating Wetland
Opened last November, the $7.5-million Sengkang Floating Wetland consists of 2,400 sq m of wetland in Punggol Reservoir, near Anchorvale Community Club.
Special plants such as rushes and sedges are grown on the floating structure, and their roots penetrate deep into the water to absorb nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates.
A bridge connecting the community club with Sengkang Riverside Park lets visitors get close to the floating wetland.
Lower Seletar Reservoir
Before its $10-million transformation, which was completed last June, the Lower Seletar Reservoir along Yishun Avenue 1 was off- limits to visitors.
Now, they can walk over the water on a 200m-long bridge that extends over the reservoir.
A new play area was also built along the reservoir banks. There is a fountain and a wading stream for kids to play in. The water for these comes from treated rainwater.
Two to come
Two more projects under the ABC Waters programme will be completed by the end of the year.
Kallang River-Bishan Park
The ugly concrete canal that runs through Bishan Park will be a thing of the past when this project is completed by end of the year.
A $76-million transformation will see a beautiful, meandering river that is seamlessly integrated with the park.
During dry weather, water flow will be confined to a narrow stream in the middle of the river. Park users will be able to walk along the water's edge, bringing people closer to water.
Other additions include a river promenade that can be used for events. There will be three playgrounds, each with a distinctive theme.
The park will also be home to diverse wildlife with habitats created to encourage certain species to settle and thrive. For example, reed beds will promote dragonfly communities and seasonal nectar-producing flowers will entice butterflies, providing a site of rich biodiversity.
PhaseTwo of MacRitchie Reservoir Makeover
Visitors will soon be able to walk on water, when the second phase of a makeover at MacRitchie Reservoir is completed.
Under the $4.5-million phase, a 40m-long submerged boardwalk will connect one bank of the reservoir to another. Visitors can walk through shallow waters, see plants growing alongside the boardwalk and be in close contact with tadpoles, fish, snails and other aquatic life.
Other new features include a hilltop F&B outlet with a view of lush greenery.
A new building is also being constructed at the current Paddle Lodge to cater to those who want to canoe and kayak.
The first phase, completed in 2009, saw the addition of a multi-storey carpark, an amenities centre and an improved floating pontoon.
