CHANGI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (Major development projects)

Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for National Development and Communications what other major development projects there will be in Changi in line with the development of Changi International Airport.

Dr Tan Eng Liang (for the Minister for National Development and Communications): Sir, a modern new satellite town with a population of about 180,000 people is being planned, just outside the adverse noise zone of the Changi Airport. The town will comprise a series of neighbourhoods, each with its own centre. When completed, it will be provided with a comprehensive range of amenities and facilities for the enjoyment of the residents, including an extensive green park on its periphery. The town will be provided with primary and secondary schools, a vocational institute, a junior college and a sports complex. There will also be a modern traffic-free town centre to be attractively designed for the pedestrians. Finally, a comprehensive public transport system will be designed to make all parts of the town accessible from one another. There will also be back-up facilities for the Airport, such as warehousing and storage of cargoes and sites for associated aerospace industries. These facilities will be planned close to the Airport for operational convenience.

There is as yet no detailed planning since the Airport is under construction and reclamation is still going on. But detailed zoning based on the facilities planned for the area will be undertaken. Meanwhile enough land has been set aside for the Airport backup facilities and for the satellite town.

Other major development projects are the construction of two expressways, one connecting the Airport to the city through the East Coast Parkway and the other linking Changi Airport to Paya Lebar Airport.