Flood prevention plans need to evolve: Environment Minister

Karen Ng Channel NewsAsia 22 Jul 12;

SINGAPORE: Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said Singapore has to "build in buffers", and be prepared to adjust its flood prevention plans as new climate data emerges.

Earlier this week, national water agency PUB announced plans to build a detention water tank and diversion canal at the Stamford Canal catchment to better deal with intense storms and flash floods.

Asked if such measures would also be considered for other canals, Dr Balakrishnan said as far as the climate is concerned, Singapore has to prepare for a more uncertain future.

"In the future that comes, we expect greater volatility and greater intensity of rain... We will have to upgrade our infrastructure accordingly," he said.

"There's a fair amount of uncertainty because you cannot predict the future... But you have to be prepared, you have to be ready to evolve as needs evolve accordingly," he added.

Dr Balakrishnan was speaking at the National Environment Agency's 10th anniversary charity run.

Some 2,100 people took part in the event, which included a 10 kilometre run and 1 kilometre fun walk.

Held at the Gardens by the Bay, the event also raised over S$460,000 for the Children's Cancer Foundation.

Another feature of the charity run was a terrarium display, which set a new entry in the Singapore Book of Records with over 1,400 terrariums on show.

Every terrarium will be given to a child suffering from cancer as it symbolises hope and will allow the children to cherish nature.

- CNA/cc

Orchard Road anti-flood measures to meet future needs
David Ee Straits Times 23 Jul 12;

THE planned canal and water detention tank to prevent Orchard Road from flooding are intended to address the problem for decades, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said yesterday.

'We want to have a definitive solution to this problem,' said the Minister for Environment and Water Resources on the sidelines of a charity run at Marina Barrage. 'I believe having both (measures) will future-proof us for greater variability in the weather in the years to come.'

The minister declined to comment on the estimated cost of the measures. National water agency PUB will call for tenders by the end of the year.

Last Thursday, it confirmed that it would build a diversion canal and a water detention tank to ease pressure on the Stamford Canal, which serves Orchard Road and the surrounding areas.

The new canal, to be completed by 2017, will drain into the Singapore River. The underground water detention tank will be built near Holland Road by 2015, and will temporarily store rainwater in the area during heavy storms.

Together, both measures are expected to divert rainwater from almost 40 per cent of the Stamford Canal catchment area.

The moves are in line with the recommendations of an expert panel set up by the Government last year to tackle flooding.

Their report, released in January, recommended a long-term approach: adopt complementary measures that would both delay excess stormwater and divert it away from the Stamford Canal.

PUB chief executive Chew Men Leong said at the same event yesterday: 'One option by itself will not be sufficient.

'When you add the two solutions together, that enhances the overall flood resilience.'

Dr Balakrishnan stressed that these were long-term measures, planned for decades ahead.

'That's the way Singapore has to be. We always have to have a long- term view on things.'

The country's rainfall has increased by about 30 per cent in the past four decades, according to the panel's findings.

But the National Environment Agency (NEA) has said that it is difficult to forecast future rainfall patterns based on past trends. The picture ahead is expected to be volatile, said Dr Balakrishnan.

The inherent difficulty in predicting future rainfall patterns means that the country has 'to be ready to evolve as needs evolve,' he added.

'That's the way Singapore has to prepare for a more and more uncertain future as far as the climate is concerned.'