RECLAMATION (CHANGI EAST)

3.45 pm

The Second Minister for Law (Prof. S. Jayakumar): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the Motion* standing in the name of the Minister for Law 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 the Government of that portion of foreshore/seabed at Changi East containing an area of 18 hectares as shown coloured pink on the plan marked "Land Office Reclamation Plan No. 3/86" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.

Sir, over the past two or three decades, sand quarrying has been carried out in the Pasir Ris area. This has resulted in numerous deep pits in the ground filled with silt slurry and debris. In order to pave the way for development of Pasir Ris New Town, it is necessary to remove the silt slurry and debris in the sand pits and restore the quarry areas before such development takes place.

The Housing and Development Board proposes to discharge the silt slurry into a depression in the area off the coast of Changi, as shown edged pink in the plan marked "Land Office Reclamation Plan No. 3/86", a copy of which is displayed in the Library of this House for the information of hon. Members. However, in order to contain the silt slurry to minimize siltation to the ports' navigation channels, it is also necessary to construct a sand bund for the discharge of the slurry.

The area of the proposed sand bund above highwater level is about 18 hectares, as shown coloured pink in the plan. The cost of constructing the bund which will take about six months to complete is estimated at $30 million. It will be borne by the Housing and Development Board as part of the expenditure in connection with the development of Pasir Ris New Town. Since the construction of the bund necessitates reclamation of about 18 hectares of the foreshore and seabed, approval of this House under section 4(2) of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270) is necessary.

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 the Government of that portion of foreshore/seabed at Changi East containing an area of 18 hectares as shown coloured pink on the plan marked "Land Office Reclamation Plan No. 3/86" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.