TELOK BLANGAH/RADIN MAS AREA (Football field)

Mr M.K.A. Jabbar asked the Minister for National Development whether the Housing and Development Board has any plan to provide a football field in the Telok Blangah/Radin Mas area for the youth there.

The Minister of State for National Development (Mr Lee Yock Suan) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, as a general rule, the Housing and Development Board does not provide football fields in its housing estates other than those in schools and sports complexes. This is because of the need to optimize the usage of scarce land in HDB estates. A football field occupying an area of 1.4 hectares can only be used by 22 persons per game, while a swimming complex with an area of 1.5 hectares can cater for the recreational needs of a large number of residents of all ages. Sports clubs wishing to use football pitches can do so by arranging with school authorities or the Sports Council for the use of their football fields.

In the case of the Telok Blangah/Radin Mas area, as part of the Mount Faber Park Phase I development, the Parks and Recreation Department will be developing a parcel of land at the junction of Telok Blangah Way and Henderson Road as a playfield suitable for football games and other sporting activities. At the moment the area is already being used as a temporary football field. When the improvement works are completed in August this year, it can be used as a proper football field by the residents in the area.