Malaysia: Forest city to create 250,000 jobs

JASSMINE SHADIQE New Straits Times 25 Mar 15;

THE Forest City project is expected to create some 250,000 job opportunities, besides offering free education to locals via its vocational and technique schools, to equip them with skills upon its completion in 2045.

The ultra-mega Forest City project will create four man-made islands with a gross development value of RM600 billion over a period of 30 years.

It developer and operator Country Garden Pacificview Sdn Bhd is committed to complete the project according to the necessary rules and regulations, including adhering to the detailed environmental impact assessment (DEIA) necessities.

Country Garden Pacificview's executive director Datuk Md Othman Yusuf said Johoreans and Malaysians will benefit from the project as it will contribute to the nation's goal in reaching high-income status.

Forest City is consistent with the government's vision as outlined in the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), to increase the population and household income for the state of Johor.

Forest City is expected to generate additional income for the state by way of quit rent, assessment, advertising taxes and entertainment taxes.

The 1,623 hectares (ha) will be constructed by way of reclamation. It will create new land mass to the state government and will directly contribute to state income when it matures.

"We aim to provide world class facilities to attract game players and market makers from around the world.

"It will have a domino effect where the country will benefit from the spill over effect. This will also be a catalyst for local migration, from different parts of Malaysia, ensuing in creation of new job opportunities," he said.

The Forest City project of 1,386.05ha on reclamation land in Tanjung Kupang, Gelang Patah, in Johor will ensure that all compliance and monitoring, in terms of air, noise, water quality and sediment, are robustly implemented and carried out.

Md Othman said their immediate priorities are to minimise the impact on the local communities by ensuring that the surrounding ecology is well preserved.

"We are committed in ensuring the villages in the vicinity are also developed and for the people to benefit from the project's spill over effects," he said during a visit to the site during an exclusive interview with Media Prima Group.

He said after taking into consideration the DEIA and Hydraulic Study, they voluntarily reduced the reclamation works to form new land comprising four islands, which was approximately 1,624ha.

The new model was reduced by 354ha to ensure the sea grass area was preserved for future generations while maintaining the flora and fauna of the surrounding area.

Md Othman said Country Garden Pacificview is a responsible company and had walked the talk.

"We always ensure that our projects are compliant, adopt best practices of governance and we fully represent the needs of the communities, the environment and the state's economic development," he said.

"We walk the extra mile as we strive to provide the best quality in terms of facilities, services and designs while ensuring that the needs of the communities are fulfilled.

"Forest city's green concept will set the trend for tomorrow's model eco-city as we believe that people and the nature can live harmoniously together by maintaining a balance between nature and nurture," Md Othman said.

"To ensure that the project has economical scale and is sustainable, we need a sizeable land bank for the entire development project. If we were to acquire existing land, it may create a long list of social impact towards the local community by way of displacement. Through reclamation, we are creating a new land mass for the state government and the people of Johor by minimising the social impacts. We aim to develop harmoniously with the support of the local community," Md Othman explained.

He guaranteed that the local community will grow together with the Forest City project, and they will ensure that no one was left behind. This was achievable with regular dialogue sessions with the villagers.

"We provided training, workshops, and even contributed in transforming their fishing methods, including assistance to pursue deeper sea fishing. We are looking at the possibility of providing training and assistance in aquaculture, such as fish hatcheries," he said.

Meanwhile, Tanjung Kupang villagers who are mostly fishermen said they are confident that via the Forest City project they and the future generation will enjoy the spill over effects.

Zainuddin Abd Jabar, 54, from Kampung Tiram Duku, Mukim Tanjung Kupang, said initially he had his reservation when the project was first announced as it would definitely have an effect on their catch.

However, Country Garden Pacificview personnel conducted several dialogue sessions with the villagers to understand their concerns better.

"Although most of the villagers are fishermen and small traders, yet Country Garden Pacificview took our concerns seriously and addressed them sincerely," he said.

Fisherman Johari Lasim, 63, said he is proud that an ultra-mega development is taking place in his " backyard" and was sure that his children and their children will benefit from the project.

Md Othman said the Forest City was a challenge proposed by the Sultan of Johor.

"Sultan Ibrahim wanted a balance development in the south of Johor that will benefit his subjects and put Johor on the world's map. Forest City aims to balance the development between south-east, central and south - west of Johor.

"Sultan Ibrahim is a man of vision. He suggested that there should be developments in the south of Johor near the Second Link Highway.

That was a brilliant idea. Sultan Ibrahim's aim is for Johor to be developed equally, as it will contribute not only to the nation, but to Johoreans residing in any part of the state.

"Sultan Ibrahim played a paramount role in convincing foreign investors to develop Johor, turning it into an urban metropolis. Tuanku Sultan reminded us that no Johorean should be left out of the benefits of any development in the state," he said

"His subjects are very close to his heart, thus they are always his priority,' he added.

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Malaysia: Monsoon transition will continue until early may: DOE

SERI NOR NADIAH New Straits Times 24 Mar 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: The current haze-like situation in the city is due to the presence of water vapour in the atmosphere.

Department of Environment Air Division senior principal assistant director Noraziah Jaafar said the country is currently experiencing a monsoon transition, which is expected to continue until early May.

“The Air Pollution Index showed that Miri is the only town in the country with a higher reading compared to the others.

“This is due to the bush fires there,” she told the New Straits Times.

She also warned of thunderstorms, flash floods and strong winds occuring during the transition period.

500 forest and bush fires due to dry spell this month: KK Fire and Rescue Dept
FATMA WATI MUNIR New Straits Times 24 Mar 15;

KOTA KINABALU : The Fire and Rescue Department responded to over 500 cases of forest and bush fires around the state this month due to the prolonged dry spell.

Its State director Nordin Pauzi said the district here and Papar recorded the highest number of cases this month at 131 and 69 respectively.

Meanwhile bush fire brought by the dry spell has ravaged the Katagazan Cemetery in Penampang on Sunday.

Babaig Condolence Committee chairman Victor Tokuyuk some of the graves in the cemetery were damaged and the surrounding area too needs to be cleared to prevent another Bush fire from spreading.

"Hopefully the government can help us here with the clearing works before it triggers another round of Bush fire," he said.

The dry spell which began in mid February is expected to continue next month before the transitional monsoon brings rain by May.

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Indonesia: Elephants trample man to death

Rizal Harahap, The Jakarta Post 24 Mar 15;

An oil palm plantation watchman, Waklung, 52, died after being trampled by a herd of feral elephants not far from his house in Koto Pait hamlet, Serai Wangi village, Pinggir district, Bengkalis regency.

Head of the local environmental group, Mandau Nature Society, Zul Husni Syukri, said the incident took place on March 21 at around 8 p.m. local time.

“The incident occurred when hamlet residents were driving away a herd of around 30 wild elephants that had entered their farms seeking food,” Zul told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Oil palm farmers jointly drove away the elephants whenever they came near, he added.

The herd of elephants was driven to a farm owned by Tewin, a local resident. Waklung was on guard duty.

“Residents stopped chasing the elephants at the farm watched by Waklung. They thought Waklung was away and were unaware he was resting in his hut,” said Zul.

The residents were then startled by screams coming from Tewin’s farm. After investigating they found Waklung, who hailed from Kalimantan, dead on the ground.

As forested areas have been converted into farms, elephants tend to migrate between neighboring plantations. Whenever elephants come, farmers join together to move them away, generally moving from one plantation to another.

According to Zul, the farm guarded by Waklung is located just 6 kilometers from the where a wild elephant was shot and killed, its tusks hacked off by poachers on Feb. 10 this year.

“One of the poachers, arrested by the Riau Police, hails from Koto Pait. Residents believe the dead elephant came from the same herd that trampled Waklung. Residents of Pinggir believe the incident to be an act of vengeance,” said Zul.

According to him, residents have long believed that wild animals like tigers and elephants exact revenge if one of their group is killed.

Zul has urged the relevant authorities to take action so as to prevent the same from happening again. “The provincial government must act, as it has so far been keeping quiet as residents confront wild animals,” he said.

World Wide Fund for Nature Indonesia’s (WWF) Riau program spokesperson Syamsidar said he believed the herd of elephants came from the Balai Raja Wildlife Refuge in Mandau district, Bengkalis.

“Currently, the elephant-passage to Mandau is hampered by the West Duri Ring Road project. They are afraid to cross when heading home to Balai Raja due to the huge number of workers, so they are trapped at residents’ farms,” said Syamsidar.

The WWF and other environmental groups have urged the local administration to reconsider the road project due to its deleterious effect on the elephant habitat.

“As the road bisects the natural elephant track, human-to-elephant conflict increases. Elephants have never altered their roaming range and the routes they use are the same their whole life,” added Syamsidar.

Syamsidar also urged the government to restore, or reinstate, the function of the Balai Raja Wildlife Refuge, most of which has been damaged and converted into oil palm farms. Of the 18,000 hectares (ha) in the original refuge area, just 150 ha of forest remain intact.

“It is unfortunate that the Balai Raja Wildlife Refuge is allowed to be converted into oil palm farms. Protection of the area must be enhanced because the conservation area is an elephant habitat with the second-largest elephant population in Riau. When the source of food in nature runs out, the elephants will switch to the residents’ farms,” Syamsidar added

- See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/03/24/elephants-trample-man-death.html#sthash.tjDOip67.dpuf

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Best of our wild blogs: 24 Mar 15

Sharing Singapore's last natural western reefs with agencies
from wild shores of singapore

11 Apr (Sat) morning: Free guided walk at the Chek Jawa Boardwalk
from Adventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs

Birds bathing in the rain
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Painted Jezebel’s post-eclosion behaviour
from Bird Ecology Study Group

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NTU develops mobile app to help reduce its energy usage

AsiaOne 23 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE - Nanyang Technological University has launched a new Eco-App to cultivate environment-friendly behaviour among students.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Environment and Water Resources, launched the new app today during the opening of NTU's annual Greenfest, the flagship event of NTU's environmental student club Earthlink.

The new app, POWERZ, enables students and staff to earn points through environmentally-friendly behaviours such as using fans instead of air-conditioning in residential halls, or switching off lights in lecture theatres when not in use.

Through its EcoCampus initiative, NTU aims to achieve a 35 per cent reduction in its energy and water usage, carbon footprint and waste output by year 2020.

The app also allow users to redeem rewards in real time. Students who use the app can redeem rewards like lucky draw coupons or food vouchers.

Associate Professor Yohanes Eko Riyanto, Principal Investigator for the POWERZ project said: "Simple everyday actions, such as switching off the lights and taking the stairs instead of the lift, can go a long way in creating a more sustainable future. The app provides a fun and exciting way to nudge people to be more environmentally conscious".

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Malaysia: Structural encroachment is one of the cause for flood in Cameron Highland

NURADZIMMAH DAIM New Straits Times 23 Mar 15;

KUALA LUMPUR: The occurrence of mud floods in Cameron Highlands was due to prolonged medium downpour, high sediment at the Sultan Abu Bakar hydro-electrical dam, structural encroachment on water channels, and the drastic increase in farming development using agriculture plastic houses, Parliament was told.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said among the measures taken to counter this include the flood mitigation projects at Sungai Bertam and Sungai Ringlet, a national-level long-term comprehensive study on flash floods which was completed in 2013, preparation of the Cameron Highlands' environmental-friendly irrigation system master plan and the proposed implementation of the rain water harvesting.

"The rehabilitation efforts also include replanting of some 6,000 trees at the affected areas, so far. We aim to plant one million trees by 2020. The Sungai Bertam and Sungai Ringlet mitigation projects, which include the riverbank rehabilitation, cost RM40million and RM58million, respectively," he said.

The recurrence of floods at Cameron Highlands which claimed lives had prompted the government last year to launch a war against illegal farm operators who were found encroached on some 6,000 ha of land there.

A Cameron Highlands' special meeting in January has set a six-month deadline for the relevant agencies to review and prepare a long-term local plan for the area as part of rehabilitation efforts.

The efforts also include ongoing enforcement on the encroached land and illegal immigrants.

The floods in Kampung Raja near Ringlet and Lembah Bertam here on Nov 5 last year claimed the lives of five people and caused more than 90 victims evacuated.

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Elephant poaching crisis unchanged a year after global pledge

Poaching of elephants in Africa still exceeds natural rate of population growth a year after 46 countries pledged to control illegal ivory trade
Karl Mathiesen The Guardian 23 Mar 15;

The number of elephants being killed by poachers in Africa remains unchanged a year after 46 countries pledged to control the illegal ivory trade.

A representative of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites), the UN body dedicated to fighting the global poaching crisis, told a conference in Botswana on Monday poaching still exceeds the natural rate of population growth.

Cites estimated that in 2013 more than 20,000 African elephants were killed for their ivory tusks. Last year the numbers were virtually the same. More than 60% of carcasses surveyed across the continent in 2014 died at the hands of poachers. According to Cites, anything more than 50% sends elephant numbers into decline.

The bad news comes a year after 46 countries signed the London declaration on the illegal wildlife trade. Former UK foreign secretary William Hague said the deal would “mark the turning point in the fight to save endangered species and to end the illegal wildlife trade”. But wildlife experts and the UK government said on Monday it was too early to judge the effectiveness of the accord.

A UK government spokeswoman said “significant progress” had been made since the meeting in London.
“But there is clearly no ‘quick fix’ for the complicated issues involved in the illegal wildlife trade, and the London declaration commitments were for the long term. The Kasane statement will identify possible gaps and areas that need strengthening. We are all dedicated to fighting this vicious trade,” she said.

Heather Sohl, chief adviser on species for WWF-UK, said some African governments had passed tougher anti-poaching laws and important demand reduction programmes have begun in China, the destination for much of the world’s illegal ivory.

Cites secretary general John Scanlon said the actions initiated by the London declaration needed more time to come to fruition.

“The momentum generated over the past few years is translating into deeper and stronger efforts to fight these crimes on the front line, where it is needed most – from the field, to police and customs, to illicit markets – and this enhanced frontline effort gives us confidence that if we persist with, and deepen this collective effort, we will reverse the devastating poaching trends of the past decade,” he said.

A spokesman for anti-poaching group Traffic said “incremental progress” had been made to combat poaching.

“Clearly action is being ramped up, but we will only be able to say things are getting better after we see evidence of a significant drop in poaching levels sustained over a period of years,” he said.

Scanlon said the Africa-wide numbers disguised regional successes and failures. Numbers in west Africa were at their worst since reliable record-keeping began. The smaller population of elephants in the west makes the species particularly vulnerable. In east Africa, poaching continued to decline from its peak in 2011, the continent’s worst year for elephant poaching.

“African elephant populations continue to face an immediate threat to their survival from high-levels of poaching for their ivory, especially in central and west Africa where the situation appears to have deteriorated. We are however also seeing some encouraging signals in parts of east Africa where the overall poaching trends have declined, which shows us all what is possible through a sustained and collective effort,” said Scanlon.

Sohl said: “The key thing that we have to keep coming back to is that the poaching rates are greater than the natural birth rates and that means that we are seeing a decline in African elephant populations. If this continues along the current rate we certainly could see the extinction of elephants in central Africa, where the current poaching rates are twice that of the continental average. That could be seen in our lifetime, so we are in a very desperate situation that needs to be addressed effectively.”

In recent years poaching has been driven by the increasing involvement of international criminal gangs, attracted by lucrative ivory prices. Between 2013 and 2014 the price of ivory in China tripled. This has lead to thousands more elephants being killed each year.

On Wednesday countries will meet again in Botswana to report their progress in fighting the international poaching crisis for all endangered species.

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Best of our wild blogs: 23 Mar 15

How is Pasir Ris marinelife after the mass fish deaths?
from wild shores of singapore

What activities affect water quality at Pasir Ris?
from wild shores of singapore

Battlefield Tour by Jon Cooper (Sun 29 Mar’15, 9.30am – 12pm)
from a.t.Bukit Brown. Heritage. Habitat. History.

Back to Chek Jawa Boardwalk
from Adventures with the Naked Hermit Crabs

Laced Woodpecker pecking on an Oil Palm Fruit
from Singapore Bird Group

Celebrating the spirit of the Independents on World Water Day!
from News from the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore

Brownback Trevally (Carangoides praeustus) @ Pasir Ris
from Monday Morgue

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PUB moves to protect desalination plants from algae in seawater

SIAU MING EN Today Online 23 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE — With the drier weather conditions of late, national water agency PUB has for the first time installed silt curtains at the waters off Tuaspring and Singspring desalination plants, to protect the plants’ reverse osmosis membranes from higher levels of algae in the water. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore put up a notice last Thursday alerting the shipping community that there would be installation works for the silt curtains from March 13 to April 20 at the Johor Strait off Tuas View.

In response to queries, PUB said it was installing the silt curtains at the intake points of Singapore’s two desalination plants, as it had noticed a slight increase in levels of algae in the seawater around that area. “They act as an additional barrier to protect the reverse osmosis membranes from fouling,” said the PUB spokesperson.

The spokesperson added that the agency would continue to monitor the situation and, if necessary, the silt curtains will stay on beyond April 20.

Silt curtains, which drop to the seabed, can help keep out silt particles or other materials. Desalinated water is one of Singapore’s four national taps and the two plants currently can meet up to 25 per cent of Singapore’s current water demand.

Director of Nanyang Technological University’s Maritime Research Centre Tan Soon Keat said in this instance, the silt curtains would be able to block out primarily suspended solids and, to a certain degree, oil slicks.

“In the case of a desalination plant, the objective is to ensure (that the) quality of water entering the intake structure (is not) being affected by suspended solids in the water column, and flotsam and oil slicks (to some degree), and to buy time to respond in the case of potential influx of suspended solid plume or other flotsam,” said Assoc Prof Tan.

For the optimal operation of a desalination plant, the raw water supply must meet certain water quality standards, he said. In the case of lower-quality raw water, the plant may then need to include additional pre-treatment processes that would incur additional cost, added Assoc Prof Tan.

During dry weather, he noted, the surrounding lands around desalination plants would be drier, leading to more land-based washoff with sudden rain. He added that there may be elevated levels of phosphorus and nitrate in the runoff. Installing silt curtains is good practice, as it can buy time for the desalination plant to respond.

Singapore has experienced dry weather in the first two months of the year and to maintain healthy water levels in the reservoirs despite the dry weather, PUB has had to adjust the production of NEWater and desalinated water in order to meet demand. Rainfall for the whole of this month is expected to be below average, according to the National Environment Agency’s fortnightly outlook.

An algal bloom in the East Johor Strait in recent weeks has killed up to 600 tonnes of fish at fish farms here. Such blooms can be triggered by unpredictable weather, a higher concentration of nutrients in the seawater and poor water exchange between the high and low tides.

Over the past few months, concerns have also been raised over the possible environmental impact from the reclamation works carried out for the Forest City project in Johor, which will see four man-made islands built in the waters in Tanjung Kupang between south-west Johor and north-west Singapore.

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Forest City's critics are jealous: Johor Sultan

Shannon Teoh My Paper AsiaOne 23 Mar 15;

Johor's Sultan has accused detractors of the massive Forest City reclamation project just west of the Tuas Second Link of being "jealous" as he insisted that the 1,386ha project is a catalyst for the state's development.

Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar also explained in an interview with the New Sunday Times published yesterday that it is difficult to acquire a similar land bank, one surrounded by water, in the state.

Forest City, a 60:40 joint-venture between one of China's top developers, Country Garden, and a company the Sultan controls, will be a four-island "green" city just north of Tuas once completed within 30 years.

The project has sparked concern over damage to the environment in the area, especially from local fishermen and residents, as well as neighbouring Singapore.

"They politicised Forest City because they are jealous. It's a case of sour grapes," Sultan Ibrahim said, without saying who he was referring to.

When asked about Singapore's reservations regarding the narrowing of the Johor Strait and restricted water flow, he pointed out that the Republic's Tuas reclamation "breached Johor's port limit by so many metres".

"If you say narrowing the straits, look at Pulau Tekong," he said, referring to ongoing reclamation on the island that is close to Pengerang on Johor's south-eastern coast.

He said "I am sure Singapore followed all the rules", adding that Johor, too, had its own plans that it needed to implement.

The Sultan called Forest City - which will have a gross development value of RM450 billion (S$167 billion) once completed - a catalyst for Johor's development, with more than 250,000 jobs set to be created.

He also said it was necessary to reclaim land as "on shore, you have acquisition" problems. "Where can I find an existing piece of land here in Johor of that size surrounded by water?" he asked.

Sultan Ibrahim, speaking ahead of his coronation today, said other plans by Johor include replacing the Causeway with a bridge to allow better flow of water across the Johor Strait.

"Let it be a landmark and we can call it the Friendship Bridge. Let the bridge show how friendly we are with our neighbours."

He also called on Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to "come to my house, have tea" to discuss outstanding issues.

"When it involves two countries, it must go through the Prime Minister's Office, Wisma Putra (Malaysia's Foreign Ministry) and the Singaporean counterparts. But any discussions between Johor and Singapore, for just the two of us to agree upon, can be decided over a cup of tea."

On what legacy he wants to leave, he said he wants change and progress in order for Johor "to be even better".

"I want a lot of changes, including the people's mindset," he said, singling out litterbugs who dirty places such as the crown arch in front of Istana Bukit Serene, his official residence.

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Haze continues to shroud Singapore’s skies

Today Online 23 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE — Hazy conditions persisted over the weekend, although the situation was improved from Friday, when the three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading crossed the 100 threshold.

The three-hour PSI rose to a reading of 77 at 4pm yesterday, before tapering off to 59 by 7pm, following thunderstorms across the island.

A PSI reading ranging from 51 to 100 is moderate, while anything from 101 and 200 is considered unhealthy.

As of 7pm yesterday, the 24-hour PSI reading was 65 to 70. In comparison, the 24-hour reading as of 7pm on Saturday was 71 to 81.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has said the hazy conditions were due to particulate matter accumulating under light wind conditions, and burning activities in the region could have contributed to an increased concentration of particulate matter.

On Friday, clusters of hot spots were detected in Myanmar. The three-hour PSI reading peaked at 6pm at 106, before dipping below 100 at 8pm. The 24-hour PSI at 7pm that day was 72 to 93.

Under moderate air-quality levels, the public can continue with normal activities. But the NEA said the health impact of the haze is dependent on one’s health status, the PSI level and the length and intensity of outdoor activity.

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Makeover for 2 river projects in the East of Singapore unveiled

Faris Mokhtar Channel NewsAsia 22 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE: Residents in the eastern part of Singapore can now enjoy more recreational spaces along two rivers which have received a makeover.

New lookout decks, more seating areas and upgraded footpaths are some of the features that can be found at both Sungei Api Api and Sungei Tampines, located between Tampines Expressway and Pasir Ris Drive 3. The river projects were officially opened on Sunday (Mar 22) by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is also an MP at Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

Other features along the two rivers include rain gardens which retain and treat rainwater runoff. They are also equipped with a subsoil pipe system to channel the filtered water into the river.

Residents whom Channel NewsAsia spoke with said the new facilities will benefit the community.

"I think more people will come, have fun and sit down. It brings the community together," said Mr Muhd Faris Nordin, a resident of Pasir Ris.

"There's more greenery now along the river compared to a few years ago," added Ms Tong Siew Hwa, who also lives in Pasir Ris. "I can see the aunties and uncles sitting at the sheltered sitting areas, and some bring their dogs down for a stroll."

Upgrading works for the two rivers started in 2013. The Public Utilities Board (PUB) said care was also taken during construction to minimise the impact to existing mangroves at Sungei Api Api - construction work for the lookout decks were confined to the embankment.

Mr Teo urged residents to also play their part in keeping the environment clean, "so that we can enjoy our rivers, waterways, as we continue to improve our living environment and improve community bonding in Pasir Ris," he said.

The makeover is part of PUB's ABC Waters Programme which was launched in 2006. It aims to integrate Singapore's canals and reservoirs with the surrounding environment to create water parks and community spaces for the public.

As of now, 27 projects under the programme have been completed, while more than 100 potential locations have been earmarked for improvements by 2030.

- CNA/es

Two revitalised rivers in east Singapore open
XUE JIANYUE Today Online 22 Mar 15;
SINGAPORE — Two revitalised rivers at east Singapore, Sungei Api Api and Sungei Tampines, were officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean this morning (March 22) as part of World Water Day.

The rivers, enhanced under the PUB’s Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) programme, was rejuvenated in a way that preserves their original environment and natural rustic charm.

As part of the programme, the PUB aimed to bring the community closer to the water edge. An environment that “blends seamlessly” with existing lush mangroves and vegetation has been created at a 900-metre section of Sungei Api Api between Tampines Expressway and Pasir Ris Drive 3, said the PUB.

There are also enhanced footpaths, new lookout decks, shelters and seating.

At a 1.1km stretch along Sungei Tampines between Tampines Expressway and Pasir Ris Drive 3, new lookout decks, a community plaza, and footpaths were added to bring residents nearer to the river.

Care was also taken during construction to minimise the impact to existing mangroves at Sungei Api Api, said PUB. For example, construction works for the lookout decks were confined to the embarkment to avoid affecting the surrounding mangroves.

To showcase the role that specially selected plants and soil can play in cleaning rainwater runoff, a rain garden was incorporated at the promenade along Sungei Api Api while two such gardens are also included along Sungei Tampines.

Two eastern rivers get fresh look, cleaner waters
XUE JIANYUE Today Online 23 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE — Two revitalised rivers in eastern Singapore, Sungei Api Api and Sungei Tampines, were officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean yesterday (March 22) as part of World Water Day.

Given a new lease of life under the PUB’s Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) programme, designers had rejuvenated the two rivers in a way that would bring the community closer to the water’s edge, while at the same time preserving the area’s original environment and natural rustic charm.

At Sungei Api Api, a 900m section between Tampines Expressway and Pasir Ris Drive 3 was enhanced with better footpaths, new lookout decks, shelters and seating — all designed to blend “seamlessly” with the existing lush mangroves and vegetation, said PUB, which has been running the ABC Waters programme since 2006.

For Sungei Tampines, a 1.1km stretch of the river between Tampines Expressway and Pasir Ris Drive 3 has been given new lookout decks, a community plaza and footpaths.

Care was also taken during construction to minimise the impact to existing mangroves at Sungei Api Api, said PUB. For example, construction works for the lookout decks were confined to the embankment to avoid affecting the surrounding mangroves.

Features to filter rainwater runoff are another major addition. At a promenade along Sungei Api Api, PUB incorporated a cleansing biotope — which uses highly porous material such as lava stone to remove sediments — and a rain garden, made up of specially selected plants to help filter the runoff.

Twelve ceramic art pieces crafted by Elias Park Primary School students, featuring flora and fauna such as the giant mudskipper and the atlas moth, were also featured along Sungei Api Api.

In a speech at the opening ceremony yesterday, Mr Teo said: “Our residents can enjoy the refreshed waterscaping and landscaping work that was first done in the 1990s.”

He added that he was glad PUB has preserved the original rustic “kampung-style” charm of the mangrove environment while refreshing the rivers and bringing residents and nature-lovers closer to the water’s edge.

Sungei Tampines is visibly cleaner than before, according to residents TODAY spoke to. “It definitely looks nicer now. At least the river is not stinky. A few years back, it used to be quite dirty,” said Tampines resident Melvin Ang. However, the river water deeper inland is brownish and still not clean, said the 45-year-old.

Another resident, IT professional Tang Hai Tao, felt there was some improvement in the past two years.

“The seawater at the river mouth used to be quite dirty. Sometimes there were pieces of rubbish. Sometimes the water colour doesn’t look good,” said the 28-year-old, who occasionally jogs along the Pasir Ris coast.

Today, the water is cleaner but the filters can still be further improved, said Mr Tang.

Other ABC Waters projects opening this year include Siglap Canal near Telok Kurau Primary School and Kembangan Community Centre, a stretch of the Kallang River at Potong Pasir, and another stretch of the same river at Toa Payoh Lorong 8.

New green spots to roam in the east
Feng Zengkun My Paper AsiaOne 23 Mar 15;

Singaporeans can now enjoy a beautiful view of foliage and clear flowing water along two rivers in Pasir Ris and Tampines.

A 900m stretch of Sungei Api Api between the Tampines Expressway and Pasir Ris Drive 3 has been turned into a vibrant green corridor, with more plants along the water's edge and canal walls, as well as wider footpaths, shelters, lookout decks and seats.

At a 1.1km stretch along Sungei Tampines, also between the expressway and Pasir Ris Drive 3, new decks and a community plaza will bring people closer to the river.

National water agency PUB opened its two latest Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters projects yesterday, a rejuvenation initiative to turn Singapore's drains, canals and reservoirs into beautiful areas that are integrated with surrounding parks and spaces.

As of last month, 27 projects have been completed under the ABC programme, which started in 2006.

Six more are slated to start this year, including one at the Bukit Batok Canal that began in January.

In the projects which opened yesterday, rain gardens and a cleansing biotope - a collection of plants and materials like soil and rocks - were created along the waterways to show how plants and soil can be used to treat rainwater.

The rain gardens use plants like Leucophyllum Frutescens (Texas ranger) and Loropetalum Chinense Var Rubrum (Chinese fringe-flower), three layers of soil and a pipe system to filter rainwater and channel it to the river.

The cleansing biotope uses highly porous materials like lava stone and hardy plants to remove sediments and some nutrients naturally from the rainwater.

Two mangrove sculptures were also erected at the entrance of Pasir Ris Drive 1 to represent the mangrove trees along Sungei Api Api. PUB minimised the impact of the lookout decks' construction on the mangroves by confining it to the canal's embankment.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who was the guest of honour at the opening, said he hoped residents will enjoy the two waterways' transformation and improved facilities. "Let us all also play our part to keep the environment and waterways clean by not littering," said Mr Teo, who is also an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

Pasir Ris resident Chiang Lan Eng said Sungei Tampines was pleasant in the past, but the makeover has made it even better. The 73-year-old retiree said: "While doing my daily exercise, I can relax by the river and take in the clean and beautiful view."

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