RECLAMATION AT CHANGI

6.00 p.m.

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 reads as follows:

'That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves the reclamation by Government of that portion of the foreshore and seabed at Changi containing a total area of approximately 607 hectares as depicted coloured pink on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 13/75" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.'

Sir, it is proposed to develop the existing airport at Changi into a civil airport. The proposed development involves the construction of a second runway which necessitates the reclamation of about 607 hectares of the foreshore at Changi as shown coloured pink on the plan marked as "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 13/75", a copy of which is displayed in the Library of this House for the information of hon. Members.

The reclamation, which will be undertaken by the Port of Singapore Authority as agents of Government, is expected to take about four years to complete and will cost some $165 million inclusive of shore protection works. Tenders for the reclamation have already been called and contracts are expected to be awarded by the end of next month. The construction of the second runway could probably start in 1978 on portions of the consolidated reclaimed land and be completed by 1982.

Fill for the reclamation will be obtained by dredging the nearby shallow foreshore within the area coloured yellow and hatched black on the plan. Additional fill will be obtained by dredging existing navigation channels within port waters.

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 that portion of the foreshore and seabed at Changi containing a total area of approximately 607 hectares as depicted coloured pink on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 13/75" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.