RECLAMATION (PULAU AYER CHAWAN)

7.38 p.m.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Sir, I beg to move the motion* standing in my name as it appears in item 16 on the Order Paper.

• The motion reads as follows:

`That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves the reclamation by Government of the additional portions of the foreshores at Pulau Ayer Chawan containing a total area of 38.4 acres as shown coloured brown on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 6/71" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.'

Sir, you will recall that in December 1968, this House approved the reclamation of approximately 332 acres of the foreshores and seabed at Pulau Ayer Chawan for the development of an oil refinery by Esso Singapore (Private) Limited. About 146 acres of these fore-shores and seabed as shown coloured pink on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 6/71", a copy of which is displayed in the Library of this Parliament for the information of Members, have already been reclaimed, whilst the remaining 186 acres (shown coloured yellow on the same plan) are being reclaimed and are expected to he completed by the end of the year.

The Jurong Town Corporation, which is undertaking the reclamation as agent of Government and is responsible for the allocation of the reclaimed land subsequently to the Company, has now applied for permission to reclaim an additional 38.4 acres of the foreshores and seabed as shown coloured brown on the plan. This additional area is required by Esso Singapore (Private) Limited for the construction of tankage and the location of its flare stack. The Company also proposes to construct dykes in this area which will serve as access to the tank age area and which will also form art oxidation pond for the treatment of effluents before discharge into the sea.

The reclamation of the additional area of 38.4 acres of the foreshores and seabed at Pulau Ayer Chawan is also expected to be completed by the end of this year at an estimated cost of $800,000. The fill required for this reclamation will be obtained from the existing hilly parts of the island itself.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Reso1ved,

That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves the reclamation by Government of the additional portions of the foreshores at Pulau Ayer Chawan containing a total area of 38.4 acres as shown coloured brown on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 6/71" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.