BUKIT BATOK TOWN CENTRE (Development plans)

Dr Ong Chit Chung asked the Minister for National Development what are the plans and schedules for the development of the Bukit Batok Town Centre at Bukit Batok Central.

Dr Lee Boon Yang (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, the development of the Bukit Batok Town Centre started in late 1984. To-date, the following facilities have been completed:

(i) Phase I of the Bukit Batok Bus Interchange;

(ii) Two multi-storey carparks;

(iii) 96 dwelling units and 57 commercial units. Included in the commercial units are 43 retail shops and six eating establishments. These numbers are already close to the current standards approved for a New Town with a similar population density as Bukit Batok. As regards marketing facilities, there are six market-produce shops in Bukit Batok Town Centre. Sites have been earmarked for commercial units to be set up by the private sector to meet the needs of the residents.

In addition, Sir, construction is currently under way for Phase II of the Bukit Batok Bus Interchange and Area Office. Tender for a town garden is expected to be called by the middle of 1990.

Dr Ong Chit Chung (Bukit Batok): Sir, I would like to ask whether the Minister is aware that the first apartment block in Bukit Batok was completed in 1984. There are now about 300-plus blocks in Bukit Batok Town. However, there is no real centre of focus or town centre. So I would like to ask whether the Minister would expedite the plan because we do not have a heart or nerve centre to draw the people together in Bukit Batok Town.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have noted in the main answer itself, development of the Town Centre already started in 1984 at the same time as the blocks were completed. In fact, most of the facilities for the Town Centre have already been completed. For the rest of the facilities - the completion of the Phase II of the Bukit Batok Bus Interchange and the Area Office - work will be in progress soon and we expect to have these completed by the end of 1990.