RECLAMATION (TELOK AYER BASIN AND MARINA BAY)

5.20 pm

The Minister for Law (Prof. S. Jayakumar): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion* standing in my name 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 113), approves the reclamation by Government of the foreshore and seabed at Telok Ayer Basin and Marina Bay containing an area of about 38 hectares as shown coloured pink on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 4/89" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.

Sir, on 23rd October 1981, this House approved the reclamation of about 21.7 hectares of the foreshore and seabed off the Town of Singapore to provide valuable land linking Marina South with the financial belt of Shenton Way and the Golden Shoe Area. However, that reclamation plan was not proceeded with mainly because the master plans drawn up by the two design consultants involved further reclamation and there was no immediate urgency then to adopt either of the plans.

With the implementation of several major development projects in the Downtown core, for example, the Ocean Building extension, the Republic Plaza at Raffles Place, the Downtown core, particularly the prime commercial areas of Shenton Way and Raffles Place will eventually be fully built up. We, therefore, need to start planning for the expansion of the City. Besides, the various development projects, which include recreational and food developments, a golf driving range and Marina City Park will be fully completed in Marina South by the end of the year. Accessibility to these development projects and traffic circulation in the area will have to be improved.

Members will know that recently, the details of the project to create a new downtown were announced by the Senior Minister of State for National Development and Home Affairs.

For this project, the Ministry of National Development proposes to proceed with the reclamation of about 36.2 hectares of the foreshore and seabed off Marina South to allow for the gradual extension of our city core around the Marina Bay and about 1.80 hectares near the Merlion to accommodate a pedestrian mall as part of the waterfront promenade linking Tanjong Rhu to Marina South and the Singapore River.

The Housing and Development Board will undertake the reclamation as agent of the Government. Works on the reclamation, estimated to cost $177.7 million, will commence in the third quarter of 1990 and will be completed in three years.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 113), approves the reclamation by Government of the foreshore and seabed at Telok Ayer Basin and Marina Bay containing an area of about 38 hectares as shown coloured pink on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 4/89" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.