RECLAMATION (Pulau Damar Laut)

The Minister for Law (Prof. S. Jayakumar): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the Motion* standing in my name.

*The Motion reads as follows:

That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 113), approves the following:--

(a) The reclamation by Government of those portions of the foreshore and seabed around Pulau Damar Laut containing a total area of approximately 38.5 hectares as shown coloured yellow on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO 2/90" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.

(b) The dredging of approximately 2.5 million cubic metres of the foreshore and seabed within the sites shown coloured pink on the same "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO 2/90" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.

Sir, as Singapore is fast becoming an air and sea cargo transhipment centre in the region, Jurong Port, as the bulk cargo port in Singapore, is equipping itself to cater to this growth in transhipment of bulk cargo coming into Singapore. The Jurong Port's existing site of 63 hectares is inadequate for further expansion. Therefore, Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) proposes to develop Pulau Damar Laut. Pulau Damar's present land area of some 24 hectares will be enlarged to some 62.5 hectares by reclaiming about 38.5 hectares of the foreshore and seabed of the island as shown coloured yellow on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 2/90", a copy of which has been displayed in the Library of this House for the information of hon. Members.

Certain dredging works will also be carried out to enable the passage of deeper draft vessels which require water depths of approximately 15 metres. The area to be dredged and deepened is shown coloured pink on the "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 2/90". The dredging will result in the removal of about 2.5 million cubic metres of dredged materials from the foreshore and seabed which will be dumped within an area of about 100 hectares between the islands of Pulau Seraya, Pulau Meskol, Pulau Merlimau and Terembu Pesek as shown coloured blue on the same plan.

JTC will undertake the reclamation and dredging works which are expected to be completed in 1991 at an estimated cost of $43 million. The cost of dredging and dumping works is estimated at $14 million. Fill for the reclamation will be provided by the reclamation contractor from his own source outside Singapore.

On completion of the reclamation work, JTC proposes to construct several multi-purpose berths along the reclaimed land. Jurong mainland will also be linked to the enlarged island by a causeway which is also shown in the plan edged red.

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 following:-

(a) The reclamation by Government of those portions of the foreshore and seabed around Pulau Damar Laut containing a total area of approximately 38.5 hectares as shown coloured yellow on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 2/90" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.

(b) The dredging of approximately 2.5 million cubic metres of the foreshore and seabed within the sites shown coloured pink on the same "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 2/90" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.