NATURE RESERVES

4.08 p.m.

The Minister for National Development (Mr Tan Kia Gan): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to move the motion* standing in my name.

*The motion reads as follows:-

That this Assembly, pursuant to subsection (1) of section 4 of the Nature Reserve Ordinance (Chapter 235), resolves -

(a) that paragraph 2 of the Schedule to the said Ordinance be deleted and the following substituted therefor:-

"2. All those two pieces of land situate in Mukim No. XVI, Bukit Timah, in the State of Singapore, known as the Bukit Timah Forest Reserve comprised in lots 354 and 357, and estimated to contain approximate areas of 1a.3r. 20.9p. and 162a. 0r. 00p. respectively, the boundaries of which are more particularly delineated and edged pink on Certified Plan No. 10623 filed in the office of the Chief Surveyor, Singapore";

(b) that paragraph 6 of the Schedule to the said Ordinance be deleted and that such deletion shall be deemed to have taken effect as from the 19th day of October, 1962.

The motion deals with two areas, namely, one area in the Bukit Timah Forest Reserve and the other in the Labrador Forest Reserve, off Telok Blangah Road.

In respect of the first area, there is a small piece of land of approximately 1.8 acres, which the Nature Reserves Board proposes to exchange for another piece of land of similar size situated adjacent to the Reserve and which belongs to the Public Works Department. This proposed exchange will be of mutual benefit to both parties as the area to be transferred from the Forest Reserve will provide a large working face of rock which will enhance the yield of granite from the Public Works quarry. The land to be offered by the Public Works Department to the Nature Reserves Board in exchange is of potential benefit to the Forest Reserve for nature conservation. This proposal will involve a re-definition of the Bukit Timah Forest Reserve and paragraph 2 of the Schedule to the Nature Reserve Ordinance will need amendment as proposed in my resolution.

In regard to the second area referred to in my resolution, it is intended to de-gazette the Labrador Forest Reserve which comprises an area of approximately 11 acres, 3 roods, 4 poles, adjacent to the Pasir Panjang Power Station. There is an urgent need to release an area of land within this Reserve immediately adjacent to the existing Power Station for the purpose of constructing a new Power Station. Work on this has already begun to enable the new Power Station to be in operation by December 1964. Recent industrial developments round the Labrador Nature Reserve has resulted in isolation of this reserve, and we are led to the conclusion that this land would better serve the needs of Singapore as a site for future industrial expansion rather than to continue as a Nature Reserve.

The Nature Reserves Board has also been consulted regarding this proposal. The Board has also put forward the view that it is quite possible that the effluence of noxious gases from the Maruzen Oil Refinery will seriously disturb the biological balance in the reserve. The Board is prepared to release the whole of this area and have asked for another area in exchange. My Ministry is looking for suitable sites in conjunction with the Nature Reserves Board, and as soon as agreement is reached by all concerned, a further resolution will be moved in this House.

Electricity consumption has shown increased trends and it is expected that demand will exceed supply in the first quarter of 1965. It is essential, therefore, that the new Power Station should be completed and in operation before that happens, otherwise we will face yet another episode of blackouts and rationing of electricity. In view of this urgency, I had authorised the City Council in October last year to begin clearance of site and building, and also for engineering works to begin at once. I feel sure that the House will endorse and support this action on my part in anticipation of the approval of this House.

May I, therefore, propose to this House to agree to the deletion of the Labrador Nature Reserve with retrospective effect from 19th October, 1962, the date on which the City Council was informed that the work could commence immediately on the site.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Assembly, pursuant to subsection (1) of section 4 of the Nature Reserves Ordinance (Chapter 235), resolves-

(a) that paragraph 2 of the Schedule to the said Ordinance be deleted and the following substituted therefor:-

"2. All those two pieces of land situate in Mukim XVI, Bukit Timah, in the State of Singapore, known as Bukit Timah Forest Reserve comprised in lots 354 and 357, and estimated to contain approximate areas of la. 3r. 20.9p, and 162a. 0r. 00p. respectively, the boundaries of which are more particularly delineated and edged pink on Certified Plan No. 10623 filed in the office of the Chief Surveyor, Singapore.";

(b) that paragraph 6 of the Schedule to the said Ordinance be deleted and that such deletion shall be deemed to have taken effect as from the 19th day of October, 1962.

4.12 p.m.