EARTH DAM AT MOUTH OF SUNGEI POYAN AND SUNGEI BERIH

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion standing in my name,

That this Parliament in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Ordinance (Chapter 246) approves the construction of an earth dam by Government at the mouth of Sungei Poyan and Sungei Berih to enable reclamation of adjacent swamp lands containing an area of approximately 900 acres as delineated on the plan, marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 5/65", which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.

Mr Speaker, Sir, this scheme is part of an overall plan to reclaim as much coastal swamp lands in our Republic as possible for development. This proposal involves the construction of an earth dam across the estuary of Sungei Poyan and Sungei Berih with tidal gates to allow the free drainage of water into the sea during low tides and to prevent the inflow of sea water during high tides. The scheme will make available an additional 900 acres, approximately 1� square miles, of land for agricultural development as shown coloured blue on the Land Office Reclamation Plan No. 5/65, a copy of which is displayed in the Library of this House for the information of Members.

The total cost is estimated to be about half a million dollars.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Parliament in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Ordinance (Chapter 246) approves the construction of an earth dam by Government at the mouth of Sungei Poyan and Sungei Berih to enable reclamation of adjacent swamp lands containing an area of approximately 900 acres as delineated on the plan, marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 5/65", which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.