Students to get their feet wet learning at PUB's river classroom

Ong Dai Lin Today Online 23 Jun 11;

SINGAPORE - Students in Clementi will have a river classroom near their schools for outdoor learning, while residents in Rochor will have a green community area in a few years under the national water agency PUB's Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) programme.

PUB told MediaCorp that Sungei Pandan and Sungei Ulu Pandan have been chosen as one of its ABC Waters projects and are conceptualised as a river classroom to allow for experiential learning by students due to the vast presence of schools in the area.

Gathering decks will be built to serve as outdoor classroom spaces for students to learn more about the ABC Waters design features of the projects. These include a sedimentation pond, eco-pond and marshland through which rainwater run-off from the main drains leading to the two rivers will flow and be treated before it is discharged into the rivers.

PUB said it conducted a workshop for some schools in the vicinity in November last year to brief them on the project. More details on school involvement will be firmed up when the project is nearing completion in the first quarter of 2013.

The Rochor Canal is the other coming project under the ABC Waters programme. It will feature a Gateway Plaza, where people can gather for community events, and a promenade along the canal that will be seamlessly integrated with the surrounding developments.

Lookout decks will be built at selected spots for people to take in views of the river.

PUB will also place specially selected plants along the river to filter and cleanse rainwater run-off from the promenade so that cleaner water flows into the river.

Work will be carried out on the whole stretch of the Rochor Canal between Jalan Besar and Crawford Street and it is expected to be completed by January 2014.

But because of the canal's close proximity to existing developments such as buildings, bridges and MRT tunnels, the challenge is to take extra care to prevent damage to these structures, said PUB.

One resident, who wanted to be known as Mdm Lim, welcomes the project. She said: "It could provide relaxation from city living as residents can walk and jog there in the evening after work."