Sharon See Channel NewsAsia 2 Jun 14;
SINGAPORE: Residents in Jurong West have a new eco-garden. It is part of JTC Corporation's business park -- CleanTech Park -- in Boon Lay.
The five-hectare garden was opened on Sunday by the area's Member of Parliament and Health Minister Gan Kim Yong.
It features walking trails, a butterfly garden and a freshwater swamp.
Leow Thiam Seng, director of JTC Corporation's aerospace, marine & CleanTech cluster, said: "When we first planned for this place, we discovered that there's a rich biodiversity here, and with the two dragon kilns, the whole idea became very intuitive.
"So we decided to position it as an eco-park for the whole CleanTech Park. We hope that the residents can use this opportunity to be more exposed and be nearer to biodiversity."
It is part of the freshwater swamp and has been enhanced so that it can capture 65 per cent of the rainwater runoff here. That water is then filtered and recycled for other uses in the park -- for example, for general outdoor washing, to flush the toilets and to irrigate the plants.
Mr Gan Kim Yong, Health Minister and MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC, said: "This Jurong Eco-Garden is part of the progressive enhancement of the CleanTech Park housing companies and research institutes in the clean technology industry.
"But it is more than just another piece of industrial real estate as it gives the community more green space on which we can explore, discover and reconnect with nature.
"Beyond just being passive green spaces, the Jurong Eco-Garden can become a focal point for community interaction.
"It will cater to a myriad of recreational activities -- you can come here to do some bird-watching, conduct your physical exercises, or simply just take leisurely strolls and enjoy the lush greenery here. Schools can also enjoy this eco-garden as another destination for field trips."
Mike Goh, a 46-year-old engineer who works at the business park, appreciates having the eco-garden so near to his workplace.
Mr Goh said: "I'm glad that this park is very near the office so... I can actually take a break in the park and enjoy the greenery."
- CNA/al
Jurong's new eco-garden offers green relief
Carolyn Khew MyPaper AsiaOne 2 Jun 14;
SINGAPORE - Those living or working in Singapore's west can look forward to more green space in their midst with the launch of a new eco-garden in Jurong.
Located in CleanTech Park, the eco-business facility next to Nanyang Technological University, residents and workers in the area can immerse themselves in the greenery.
The 5ha Jurong Eco-Garden features a freshwater swamp forest, which serves as a central retention pond for storm water.
About 65 per cent of the storm water run-off collected will be filtered for toilet-flushing and watering plants, among other purposes.
Speaking at the official opening yesterday, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said that the eco-garden will become a "focal point for community interaction".
Mr Gan, who is an MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC, said that grassroots organisations are working with the National Parks Board to make the eco-garden part of the 150km Round Island Route, a green corridor that goes round Singapore.
Much care was taken to ensure that there were sustainability features in the park, like reusing wood from felled trees in the area to make signage and park furniture, as well as incorporating excavated rocks from JTC Corporation's previous building projects.
"When we created the Jurong Eco-Garden, we had to strike a balance between development needs and the natural environment," said JTC Corporation chief executive officer Png Cheong Boon.
In order to increase the garden's butterfly population, butterfly-attracting plants have been planted. So far, 15 new butterfly species have been recorded, "some of which are of conservation interest in Singapore", said Mr Png.
Going forward, JTC will see how it can apply the experience of sustainably developing the business park to future projects, where appropriate.
Bukit Batok resident Mike Goh, 46, said that he enjoyed spotting wildlife in the garden.
The engineer, who works at CleanTech Park, said: "Personally, I like greenery. I would bring my kids here to expose them to nature and take pictures."
Bask in nature's glory at Jurong Eco-Garden
Melissa Lin The Straits Times AsiaOne 4 Jun 14;
SINGAPORE - Residents living in the West can now go for strolls and enjoy nature at a new eco-friendly park next to Nanyang Technological University.
At the Jurong Eco-Garden, which is the size of about seven football fields, are features including a freshwater swamp, streams, ponds and a butterfly garden. There are also walking trails and a summit lookout with a bird's-eye view of the park.
The eco-garden, a project by JTC Corp, forms the "green lung" of its CleanTech Park, an industrial estate dedicated to the research and development of sustainable solutions. Its design represents a first for a garden in an industrial park in Singapore.
When creating the park, JTC sought to strike a balance between developmental needs and the natural environment, said chief executive Png Cheong Boon.
The site was once a secondary forest, meaning that it had already been affected by human activity.
A freshwater swamp, for example, serves as a detention pond for rainwater run-off. About 65 per cent of the run-off is captured, filtered and channelled for toilet flushing, irrigation of plants and outdoor washing, said Mr Png.
Other sustainable features there include the rocks used for the summit lookout, which were excavated from JTC's other building projects and reused. Wood from felled trees on the site was reused for signage and park furniture.
