SINGAPORE – Redevelopment and retrenchments will be on the agenda when Parliament sits on Aug 4, with questions on Maju Forest, Gillman Barracks and workforce transformation at the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) dominating the session.
At least 18 questions have been filed about the planned redevelopment of Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks, following public discussion sparked by the Housing Board’s release of conceptual plans and accompanying environmental and heritage reports for the areas on July 10.
MPs from both sides of the House will ask, among other things, about the balancing of housing needs versus environmental preservation and whether the redevelopment plans are open for discussion.
Under the plans, some 15ha of the 23ha Maju Forest along Sunset Way are proposed for public housing, with the remaining areas retained as wildlife refuges and ecological corridors. Gillman Barracks, a former military site with heritage buildings, has been proposed for a mixed-use residential neighbourhood with public and private housing.
Singaporeans, especially those living near the areas affected, have raised concerns about the loss of green spaces and the impact on wildlife, with some petitioning their MPs to raise the issues in Parliament.
Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Rachel Ong, who oversees the Telok Blangah division where Gillman Barracks is located, asks if alternative sites for housing were evaluated and if the Government will hold dialogue sessions with residents, as well as heritage and nature groups, to refine its plans.
Read Full Article At Source
