BUKIT TIMAH RACE COURSE (Land use)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Dr Wang Kai Yuen asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the value of the total land area occupied by the Bukit Timah race course and its facilities, using the property value of the surrounding residential area; (b) whether the current land use as a race course is optimal in land scarce Singapore; (c) whether there are alternative sites in outlying areas served by both the expressway network and the Mass Rapid Transit system that can be better used as a race course; and (d) whether the Government has any plan to reclaim the race course as part of its urban redevelopment process in the future.

The Minister for National Development (Mr S. Dhanabalan): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Bukit Timah Race Course and its facilities occupy a total area of 135 hectares. The land is predominantly zoned Open Space. The land value based on this zoning is estimated (by the Chief Valuer) to be about $10 per square metre. If the land is rezoned for residential use, then it would reflect the property value of the surrounding low-rise residential area which is estimated at $550 per square metre.

The Turf Club has been at the present location since 1933. Today, considering the surrounding developments that have taken place since, it is obviously less than optimal use for the site to be used as a race course. From the planning point of view, the present use of the land is environmentally compatible with the surrounding residential use. The present use, however, does cause traffic and parking problems. The land can be looked upon as a reserve for development in the long term. The possible relocation of the Turf Club would be a subject for study in my Ministry's current review of our long-term land needs.

Dr Wang Kai Yuen (Bukit Timah): Sir, would the Minister kindly rephrase his answer in terms of the land area, especially in comparison to, let us say, something that the lay person can understand? For instance, would he say that the area occupied by the race course is one-third or one-half or one-quarter of the Sentosa Island?

Mr Dhanabalan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I cannot tell him but since I have given the figure of 135 hectares, I am sure the Member can go and work out for himself.