SINGAPORE – Plans to reshape Singapore’s southern coastline into a new precinct that will offer people more housing and recreational options are progressing.
Reclamation works are expected to be carried out at the Keppel and Tanjong Pagar terminals after they relocate to Tuas around 2027.
The work to reclaim around 213ha of land, around half the size of Marina Bay, for the Greater Southern Waterfront precinct will take at least 10 years to complete, the Housing Board told The Straits Times.
The proposed land reclamation was revealed in an environmental impact assessment released on HDB’s website on April 8.
In response to queries, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said the reclamation works will be carried out at the vacated terminals to form contiguous land that will enable comprehensive redevelopment of the area.
“This will provide a direct connection along the southern coastline between existing precincts such as Labrador and Harbourfront, areas currently occupied by the city terminals, and Marina Bay,” the URA spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added: “The development of the Greater Southern Waterfront will be paced out over many years to support Singapore’s long-term land use needs and will comprise a mix of uses. More detailed plans on future developments will be shared when ready.”
The area to be reclaimed is also located near Pulau Brani and Sentosa, which will be redeveloped into a leisure and tourism destination over the next two to three decades.
The future Greater Southern Waterfront precinct was announced in 2013. It stretches from Pasir Panjang to Marina East, and will have new residential precincts, as well as commercial, recreational and entertainment options. It is expected to take 20 to 30 years to transform the area.
The proposed land reclamation at the terminals will be located next to the Long Island mega-reclamation project involving the creation of some 800ha of new land, which serves to protect the low-lying East Coast area from rising sea levels.
In end-March, URA said it is planning to start preparatory works for Long Island, including removing seabed obstructions and moving materials into the waters. These works are not expected to impact land-based activities, and the authorities will share the affected locations in the coming months.
Singapore’s southern coastline will eventually comprise the Greater Southern Waterfront, Marina Bay, Kallang Basin and the future Long Island project.
The authorities did not say when the reclamation works at the terminals will begin.
But HDB told ST that the works will take place progressively as the port phases out and other works related to the environmental study are completed. These include developing measures to limit the impact on the environment and taking into account points from stakeholders for the project’s planning and design.
It was earlier reported that the Keppel and Tanjong Pagar terminals are expected to relocate to Tuas Port by 2027.
According to the environmental impact study by consultancy DHI Water & Environment, the reclamation area will be divided into two phases.
