SINGAPORE — Some residents living near a proposed “Long Island” reclamation site along the south-eastern coast of Singapore are hoping that the charm and tranquillity of the East Coast area would be retained if the authorities decide to proceed with the development.
Among the long-term plans being reviewed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is 15km of reclaimed land stretching from Marina East to Changi, on which future housing will be built. Property analysts said that these will likely be among the most coveted projects when launched.
Although the reclamation works could happen only several decades from now, one property analyst is already estimating that some 10,000 to 15,000 public and private housing units could be built on Long Island.
They were commenting after URA announced on Monday (June 6) that it was studying a conceptual plan to reclaim the land along the coast to offer protection against floods and rising sea levels.
The development could include creating a new reservoir for the country’s water needs and can be planned for housing as well as leisure and recreation, URA added.
It was one of several planning concepts and proposals to guide Singapore’s development to guide for the next 50 years, and these are presented at a public exhibition at The URA Centre.
TODAY approached a handful of residents living along Meyer Road, a short walk away from East Coast Park, and most of them spoke of the appeal of living near the Singapore Strait, offering them sea breeze, quiet surroundings and the clear views of the waterfront.
Mr P Tan, who lives at The Makena condominium, said that being near the beach and the city centre lends a “certain charm” to the area.
“I like that it’s a quiet neighbourhood. So I think that if more houses were to be built in front of us, it might lead to more congestion,” the entrepreneur in his 30s said.
While he understood that the efforts were needed to tackle rising sea levels and flooding, he was concerned about the dust and noise of the development.
“I think the beauty of (living here) is the sea view. So if you build more high-rise buildings and it blocks the view and the wind, then I think the residents here may not be very happy.”
Echoing a similar view, Mr JD Tan, 36, who lives at The Meyerise condominium, said that he would be supportive of the project so long as there are not too many high-rise residential developments.
“If the project is appealing and there are recreational amenities, I think it’s a positive thing,” he said.
On the concerns over rising sea levels, Mr Anupam Bhattacharya, 58, a resident of The Sovereign condominium, said: “In Singapore, there’s not so much land, so you have to be innovative to create dwelling to support a growing population.
“It’s a good thing, and I’m sure the authorities will think about how to maintain Singapore’s beauty when they do it.”
