PULAU AYER MERLIMAU (Construction of Docks, Jetties and other Public Works)

4.42 p.m.

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

• The motion, standing in the name of the Minister for Law and National Development, reads as follows:

That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves the construction of docks, jetties or other public works and a submarine water pipeline along or out from those portions of the foreshores at Pulau Ayer Merlimau, as shown coloured green and in broken blue line on the plan marked as `LAND OFFICE PLAN NO. 1/73", which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.

Sir, you will recall that at its sitting on 19th October, 1971, this House approved the reclamation of about 170 acres of the foreshore and seabed at Pulau Ayer Merlimau as shown coloured yellow on the plan marked as "LAND OFFICE PLAN No. 1/73", a copy of which is displayed in the Library of this House for the information of Members. This reclamation, undertaken by the Jurong Town Corporation as agent of the Government, is now in progress. On completion, the whole of Pulau Ayer Merlimau, comprising about 150 acres of dry land (shown edged red on the plan) and the reclaimed area, will be alienated to the Corporation for 99 years to enable the Corporation in turn to sub-lease the island to the Singapore Petroleum Company (Private) Limited for the development of an oil refinery.

The Corporation has now applied on behalf of the Singapore Petroleum Company for foreshore leases in respect of -

(a) those portions of the foreshore and seabed at Pulau Ayer Merlimau shown coloured green on the plan for the construction of:

(i) an oil handling dock for receiving crude oil for processing and shipment of petroleum products;

(ii) a dry cargo dock for receiving equipment and materials for the maintenance of the refinery, ship dry products, such as sulphur and drummed asphalt and bunker barges and ships;

(iii) a personnel jetty for the landing and disembarking of personnel to operate and maintain the refinery;

(iv) a dredge water intake for sea water intake to cool product streams in the refinery process; and

(b) a small area of the foreshore and seabed adjacent to Pulau Ayer Merlimau (also shown coloured green) to include rights and liberties for the construction of a 10-inch submarine water pipeline across the seabed from Pulau Ayer Merlimau to Pulau Ayer Chawan, as shown in broken blue line on the plan.

Under section 4 of the Foreshores Act, approval of this House is necessary before any work can be carried out.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves the construction of docks, jetties or other public works and a submarine water pipeline along or out from those portions of the foreshores at Pulau Ayer Merlimau, as shown coloured green and in broken blue line on the plan marked as "LAND OFFICE PLAN NO. 1/73", which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.