CLOSED PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS

CLOSED PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS

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(Update on land use): **

5.

Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) whether he will provide an update on the plans for the four public swimming pools that have remained closed for over five years; and (b) whether any of these have been returned by the Singapore Sports Council to the Singapore Land Authority for better land use and, if not, what is the estimated opportunity loss in terms of rental forgone.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) initiated a Request for Proposal (RFP) in April 2009 for the four closed swimming pools. The exercise resulted in a private operator utilising Bukit Merah Swimming Complex as an aquatic and fitness centre.

Six proposals were received for Jurong Town Swimming Complex, Pandan Gardens Swimming Complex and Yan Kit Swimming Complex. However, SSC did not award the tenders for these three swimming complexes because the proposals did not meet the objectives of the RFP exercise.

Subsequently, SSC received further proposals from several national sports associations (NSAs) and private organisations to use the facilities for various sports and recreational programmes. However, these proposals were also unsuitable.

Consequently, SSC will convert Jurong Town Swimming Complex into hard courts to provide more playing spaces for the residents in the area. These hard courts can be used for futsal or basketball. The two remaining swimming complexes at Pandan Gardens and Yan Kit will revert to the State.