PRIVATE ESTATE RESIDENTS IN ANG MO KIO GRC

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PRIVATE ESTATE RESIDENTS IN ANG MO KIO GRC:

(Hotline for non-emergency estate maintenance matters): 10.

Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for National Development (a) when will his Ministry introduce a dedicated telephone hotline for private estate residents in Ang Mo Kio GRC that will assist them to liaise with Government departments and agencies on non-emergency estate maintenance matters; (b) how much funding will be provided for this project; and (c) whether Community Improvement Projects Committee (CIPC) funds can be used for projects in private estates.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) (for the Minister for National Development): Sir, I believe that Mdm Lee Bee Wah is referring

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to the Aljunied Connect for Estates (ACE) project launched by Aljunied GRC on 6th July this year. This two-year pilot project arose from a recommendation by the Committee on Private Estates chaired by Mrs Lim Hwee Hua last year. The Committee had recommended that resources be allocated to Citizens' Consultative Committees (CCCs) to help private estate residents coordinate estate maintenance issues with the relevant Government agencies. As part of the scheme implemented by the CCCs in Aljunied GRC, public education and a telephone hotline are provided for private estate residents to help them address estate maintenance matters.

This pilot programme will also be implemented in two other GRCs with a large number of private estates – Tanjong Pagar and Holland-Bukit Timah GRC. At the end of the two-year pilot programme, the Committee on Private Estates will review the scheme and assess if it should be extended to other constituencies and, if so, in what form.

Notwithstanding this pilot programme in the three GRCs, residents in private estates can continue to approach the various Government agencies directly to provide feedback on or seek resolution of estate maintenance problems.

On the use of CIPC funds for projects in private estates, the Government had earlier announced that the CIPC scheme would be extended to private estates to allow for timely and small-scale improvement works in these estates. In order to cater to the specific needs of the private estate dwellers, we have decided to expand the Estate Upgrading Programme to allow small-scale upgrading works that will complement the EUP. Similar to the EUP, the small-scale improvement works will be funded by the Government, but subject to stipulated cost caps. MND will be announcing the implementation details of the scheme shortly.

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Er Lee Bee Wah (Ang Mo Kio): I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for the explanation. I have two supplementary questions:

(1) Just now the Parliamentary Secretary mentioned that it will take two years before deciding whether or not the programme is to be extended to the other GRCs. That would mean that Ang Mo Kio may be getting it in 2010. My question is: why is it is in two years' time?

(2) Can the CIPC funds be used to build barrier-free access in private estates, which is a very common request from the private estate residents?

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman: On the first question on when Ang Mo Kio will get it, as I have mentioned, it is a pilot project and is recommended by the Committee on Private Estates. The Committee felt that it will take some time for them to assess the viability as well as ascertain the potential effectiveness of the programme. Mdm Lee's question is whether it can be brought forward. We will refer back to the Committee on Private Estates to assess whether a shorter period will be sufficient for them to assess the viability, or even to ascertain whether that pilot project can work. But, at this point in time, the Committee's assessment is that it will take two years, at least, for them to assess that project.

On CIPC and usage of CIPC funds for barrier-free access facilities in private estates, as I mentioned earlier, the Government announced earlier that we are considering using CIPC funds for private estates. But having considered the matter further, we are looking at implementing or expanding the EUP for small-scale private estate projects. And we are looking into various aspects on the needs of the private estates and will announce details of that programme shortly.