Larger mangrove areas for Punggol

Kash Cheong Straits Times 28 Jun 13;

HUGE swathes of freshwater mangroves and floating wetlands will be planted at Punggol Waterway to benefit future residents and visitors.

The Housing Board began "greening" the area in June 2011 by planting 160 sq m of mangroves. This is set to grow massively to about 6,000 sq m of freshwater mangroves and 500 sq m of floating wetlands.

"The plants absorb nitrates from the water, therefore acting as a natural filter," said the HDB's principal architect Alan Tan. "Freshwater mangroves also strengthen the embankments. The greenery has attracted 80 species of birds so far."

Some 50 sq m of floating wetlands have been successfully test-bedded at Sunrise Bridge on the eastern side of the 4.2km waterway.

The expansion of mangroves and floating wetlands, which will take place over the next three to five years, will cost about $2.65 million in total. Funding has been secured by the Ministry of National Development, Mr Tan said.

Mangroves covered about 13.5 per cent of Singapore's land area in the 1960s but due to urbanisation, this has become reduced to around 0.5 per cent now.

Mr Christopher Chong, who will move into his Punggol Waterway flat in 2015, said: "I do not disagree with the principle of spending money to replace at least some of the greenery we remove. However, I hope the Government can be more transparent about why the projects cost $2.65 million."

Said Punggol resident Tan Kang Sheng, 24: "The expansion is quite a good move. Punggol could be a model for future towns - sustainable, green and aesthetically appealing."

Additional reporting by Chan Huan Jun