Potong Pasir waterfront gets makeover

LEE YEN NEE Today Online 12 Jul 15;

SINGAPORE — A 400m stretch along Kallang River in the Potong Pasir estate was the latest to be transformed into recreational space under national water agency PUB’s Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme.

The area between Potong Pasir Avenue 1 and St Andrew’s Junior School was the 28th site to come under the programme.

At the official opening today (July 12), Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, Member of Parliament (MP) for Potong Pasir, said the project had been part of the 2006 General Election manifesto. “This vision that we set out 10 years ago is now a reality, and today, our Potong Pasir residents are able to use this amenity,” said Mr Sitoh, who became the constituency’s MP in 2011.

The makeover included an open plaza with two shelters that can accommodate about 750 people, four lookout decks and three rain gardens with plants that hold and treat rainwater before discharging it into the river.

Besides the Kallang River initiative, other improvements that have been made to the estate included lift upgrading, adding more childcare and elderly activity centres, as well as equipping the community centre with facilities, such as a supermarket. “That’s not the end of the story. Going forward, we want to continue with what we have begun,” said Mr Sitoh.

Residents of Potong Pasir have welcomed the changes. Student Viviana Xie, 20, who has lived in the estate for 16 years and who jogs frequently along the Kallang River, said: “There used be a smell from the river. Now, with it having been cleaned, it’s a lot nicer to jog here, so I think it’s a good initiative.”

Waterfront in Potong Pasir gets makeover
A 400-metre stretch along the Kallang River in Potong Pasir has been given a makeover, transforming it into a vibrant community space.
Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid, Channel NewsAsia 13 Jul 15;

SINGAPORE: Residents of Potong Pasir can now enjoy new community spaces along a 400-metre stretch of the Kallang River that has been transformed into a vibrant and an aesthetically-pleasing waterway.

The makeover cost about S$7 million.

Community events and outdoor learning activities can be held at an open plaza which is able to accommodate about 750 people. Four lookout decks and new seats along the waterfront also allow park users to enjoy the scenery.

Potong Pasir MP Sitoh Yih Pin officiated the opening of the transformed waterfront, which is located between Potong Pasir Avenue 1 and St Andrew's Junior College, on Sunday (Jul 12) morning.

"If you look at our election manifesto in 2006, 10 years ago, we had a dream to create this ABC Kallang River park that will cater to our residents and will cater to the morning joggers and people who walk in the evening. I'm very happy and proud to say that this dream has now become a reality," said Mr Sitoh.

"The bigger plan is to connect the ABC water project from Upper Pierce all the way to barrage at Marina. Going forward for all of us, we want to continue on what we had begun and complete it, so we hope that residents can give their support."

Students from St Andrew’s Secondary School had helped to plant the rain gardens along the waterfront in June.

The gardens, together with the vegetated swales, help to filter out sediments naturally and improve the quality of rainwater runoff entering the river. The transformed area presents learning opportunities for the students.

"We get to learn about the different types of plants and not only that, we get to see things we don't really get to see in our daily lives, like otters in the rivers," said St Andrew's Secondary School student Marcus Lim.

Students also conduct water quality tests regularly, and the data obtained is sent to PUB.

The project is part of the Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme by national water agency PUB.

The programme aims to transform drains, canals and reservoirs into beautiful streams, rivers and lakes that are well-integrated with the surrounding parks and spaces.

- CNA/rw/ec

Kallang River waterfront rejuvenated with lookout decks and new plaza
AsiaOne 12 Jul 15;

SINGAPORE - A 400m rejuvenated stretch of waterway along the Kallang River was officially opened on Sunday by advisor for Potong Pasir SMC, Mr Sitoh Yih Pin.

Complete with lookout decks and an open plaza for community events, the project by national water agency PUB's Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) took about one and a half years to complete.

Under the $7 million project, plants were grown on the banks of the river and four lookout decks with timber seating were built. The new plaza can accommodate up to 750 people.

Last month, students from St Andrew's Secondary School had lent their hands in planting rain gardens along the waterway. Rain gardens treat rainwater runoff using specially-selected plants and soil media before it is discharged into the river.

The school has been actively conducting frequent clean-ups, river studies and projects along Kallang River since 2005. The school is also developing a learning trail in the long run, which will be conducted for the community on a regular basis.

Mr Tan Nguan Sen, PUB's chief sustainability officer, said he was heartened to receive support from schools, residents and community groups who participated actively in shaping this project.

"Under the ABC Waters Programme, we endeavour to revitalise pockets of blue spaces along Kallang River, the longest river in Singapore serving a large catchment area that includes estates like Toa Payoh, Bishan and Potong Pasir," said Mr Tan.

A breath of fresh air for Potong Pasir
My Paper AsiaOne 13 Jul 15;

REJUVENATED: Residents at a lookout deck along an improved 400m stretch of the Kallang River yesterday.

Residents of Potong Pasir can enjoy a new and improved waterfront near their homes, with viewing decks and a plaza for community events.

The 400m stretch along the Kallang River was officially opened yesterday by Potong Pasir MP Sitoh Yih Pin.

Rain gardens and vegetated swales will cleanse rainwater run-off, and decks with timber seating offer a soothing view of the waterfront.

An open plaza has also been built to accommodate 750 people for community events and outdoor classroom learning.

Said Irene Ong, 62, who has lived in the estate for more than 20 years: "The water is very clean and the scenery, with different types of plants and flowers, really makes people want to come down to have a look."

Last month, students from St Andrew's Secondary School helped to plant rain gardens along the waterway. Rain gardens treat rainwater run-off using specially selected plants, for instance, before it is discharged into the river.

The school has conducted cleanups and projects along the Kallang River since 2005.

The Potong Pasir waterfront has been 11/2 years in the making, under national water agency PUB's Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) programme to spruce up water bodies here.

The $7-million project is the 28th under the programme to be completed. Over 100 potential locations have been identified for a makeover under the ABC Waters programme by 2030.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines, Mr Sitoh cited other work that has benefited residents, including lift upgrading and a home improvement programme.

Potong Pasir was held by opposition MP Chiam See Tong for 27 years, but it elected the People's Action Party candidate in 2011.

"There are still a lot of things to be done," said Mr Sitoh. "We want to carry on and complete the journey that we have started."