RECLAMATION AT TELOK AYER BASIN AND OFF NICOLL HIGHWAY

3.29 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 reclamation by Government of those portions of the foreshore and seabed at Telok Ayer Basin and off' Nicoll Highway containing a total area of approximately 370 acres as shown edged in red on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 6/73" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.

Sir, the intensive construction of buildings in the central area, especially along Shenton Way and in the "Golden Shoe" area, necessitates early action to expand the road capacity and improve the traffic flow system in the vicinity. A coastal expressway, called the East Coast Parkway, is under construction on the reclaimed land from Bedok to Tanjong Rhu. The Jurong Expressway on the west coast, starting from the Anson Road/Keppel Road junction, will be built to link the central area to Jurong. To join these two expressways to form a freeway from east to west, skirting the city centre, it is planned to extend the East Coast Parkway across Kallang Basin out to the sea on to the existing detached stone mole, or break-water, and then back to land through Telok Ayer Basin to the Jurong Expressway at the Anson Road/Keppel Road junction. This system will enclose a large span of water at the seafront and create a 220-acre lagoon.

Members will recall that in November, 1967, approval was given by this House for the reclamation of 165 acres of foreshore and seabed off Nicoll Highway. It is now proposed to widen the existing stone mole and extend the reclamation areas by another 370 acres, as shown edged in red on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 6/73". A copy of this reclamation plan is displayed in the Library of this House for the information of hon. Members. Thus, together with the 165 acres already approved and under reclamation (shown edged in blue on the plan), a total of 535 acres of reclaimed land will become available. The project will enable some 66 acres to be set aside for the Expressway and local roads, about 79 acres for public, social and cultural amenities, including landscaped walkways, car parks, hospital and school sites and even a centre for performing arts, 105 acres for commercial usage and condominium housing, and the remaining 285 acres for open spaces and promenades. Sites for commercial and residential development will be sold by auction to private developers.

The fill required for the reclamation, which will be undertaken by the Urban Renewal Authority as agent of the Government and is expected to be completed in about five years' time at a total estimated cost of about $294 million, will be obtained from the Johore Shoals.

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 reclamation by Government of those portions of the foreshore and seabed at Telok Ayer Basin and off Nicoll Highway containing a total area of approximately 370 acres as shown edged in red on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 6/73", which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.