SINGAPORE : Pasir Ris, Punggol and Sengkang residents will have
more reasons to keep to a healthy lifestyle.
Over S$850 million has been set aside to upgrade their estates in
the next five years.
Of this, S$150 million will be used to develop facilities like
sports complexes, and S$700 million will be for new housing
developments.
Residents in Pasir Ris and Sengkang can look forward to sports
complexes and swimming pools.
"I'm very excited. We have been waiting very long for a swimming
pool, actually. Before, if we wanted to go for a swim we would have
to go to Downtown East but Downtown East has been converted to Wild
Wild Wet. Now, we have to go all the way to Tampines," said Pasir
Ris resident Ng Cher Pheng.
"In Pasir Ris we don't even have a squash court, so if we have a
sport complex here, it will be great," resident Dorran Leong
said.
Pasir Ris will also see a new food cum entertainment mart at
Downtown East by 2007, and a S$200 million mega retail warehouse
complex by 2008.
The five-year development plan will also include the needs of the
elderly.
There will be six elderly fitness stations like the ones at Punggol
21; Pasir Ris and Sengkang are expected to follow suit.
"It's very good to have such facilities for senior citizens so
every morning we can exercise and at night the grandchildren can
come down and play," said Paris Ris resident Tan Kin Tee.
Residents will benefit further when the S$1.7 billion Kallang-Paya
Lebar Expressway (KPE) is ready by 2008.
Also expect more greenery and landscaping as park connectors
between the towns are further extended, incorporating leisure and
recreational facilities by the waterfront.
Said Dr Michael Lim, MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, "We've got about
25 government departments working with the grassroots organisations
so that we can plan the facilities and amenities in time. Many of
the things were pre-planned, like the RC centres, childcare
centres, kindergartens -- they were planned even before the
population moved in so that when they move in everything was like
clock-work."
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean says the PAP is confident of meeting
the residents' needs.
He said, "Our residents here will be able to decide wisely on who
will be able to serve them best in the future. I think they would
want to choose someone who has a real concern for their interest
and who will not be here just two or three weeks before an election
to stir things up."
Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC was recently expanded from a five-member to a
six-member team.
But Mr Teo was tight-lipped about the identity of the sixth member
and would rather leave it to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to make
the announcement. - CNA /ct
