OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF CHOA CHU KANG

Mr Tang See Chim asked the Minister for Law and National Development what plans he has for the overall development of the Choa Chu Kang Constituency.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, a substantial part of Choa Chu Kang Constituency has been set aside for farming and resettlement. The villages in this area are also earmarked for expansion to provide such facilities as schools, community centres and clinics to serve the rural people. The sites presently occupied by the Royal Air Force and the cemetery will remain for some time, but a large portion of the swamp land lying between the proposed Woodlands New Town and Sungei Kranji is being reclaimed and developed for sawmills.

Mr Tang See Chim (Choa Chu Kang): When will the area proposed to be developed for sawmills be ready for occupation?

Mr Barker: Again, Mr Speaker, this is a question for the Economic Development Board, as it is their project. But I am given to understand that the Economic Development Board has already reclaimed, as a first phase of the development, some 40 to 50 acres of land which are now ready for allocation to timber industries. But, unfortunately, water and electric power is as yet not available, because their supply will entail the laying down of big mains. It is, however, expected that these mains will be laid in the Kranji area in about the middle of next year. In the meantime, the Economic Development Board is planning phase II of the reclamation, and the size, duration and completion of this phase will depend, of course, on the availability of earth from the nearby areas, such as Mandai.