WALKING TRAILS IN RESERVOIRS AND NATIONAL PARKS (Enforcement of regulations)

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WALKING TRAILS IN RESERVOIRS AND NATIONAL PARKS:

(Enforcement of regulations): 18.

Dr Warren Lee asked the Minister for National Development given the increased interest in our walking trails within the reservoirs and national parks (a) whether there are sufficient staff to enforce NParks regulations, such as no cycling, no poaching of animals, fish, birds and plants, given the tremendous popularity of the Tree Top walk in the MacRitchie/Pierce catchment reserve; (b) whether it will be possible to install close circuit television cameras at the entry and exit points of the major trails, such as the MacRitchie reservoir trails, to deter cyclists from cycling and causing disturbance to joggers and walkers in these areas; and (c) whether existing penalties for such anti-social behaviour are sufficient deterrence and whether they are enforced.

The Second Minister for National Development (Mr Lim Swee Say): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member is right that there is increased interest in our walking trails, reservoirs and nature reserves. For example, the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

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attracted about 400,000 visitors last year. The Tree-Top Walk has received about 20,000 visitors per month since it was opened in November last year.

Sir, with the increased usage, the job of protecting our natural heritage

has become even more challenging. However, the solution does not lie in NParks deploying more staff to carry out the enforcement functions. The public needs to play its part too. In this regard, I am happy to say that many individuals and organisations are already helping NParks to monitor the health of the habitats. They conduct guided walks and educational talks, and patrol the areas. Visitors can also help by alerting NParks if they spot any defects or witness any unauthorised activities in the nature reserves. More importantly, visitors should do their part to safeguard our heritage for others' enjoyment by keeping the areas clean and tranquil.

Dr Lee asked whether it would be possible to install closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) at the major trails to deter improper uses of the facilities. CCTVs are more useful in confined areas where the monitoring staff can respond instantly to incidents. As the nature reserves are vast open areas, CCTVs may not be as effective. In any case, it will not be possible for us to monitor people's activities all the time. Ultimately, visitors, cyclists included, should exercise personal responsibility and common courtesy. For example, they should observe trail etiquette by keeping to designated paths.

Dr Lee asked whether existing penalties for anti-social behaviour are sufficient deterrence and whether they are enforced. Sir, under the existing National Parks Regulations, enforcement action may be taken against persons for cycling on unauthorised tracks, fishing illegally and so on in the nature reserves.

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Offenders may be fined up to $5,000 upon conviction. In 2004, a total of 148 people were fined for various offences committed in the reserves.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: I would like to ask the Minister, in considering giving access of nature parks and other facilities to the public, whether the Ministry also looks into the issue of safety of access. For instance, it was recently reported that the access to the Tree-Top Walk via the Singapore Island Country Club is dangerous because there is no walkway for the public to access the Tree-Top Walk.

Mr Lim Swee Say: Sir, the location of the Tree-Top Walk is such that it is in the middle of the nature reserve. The Member is correct that there is no direct access to the Tree-Top Walk, in the sense that you do not see a big road or path going direct to the Tree-Top Walk. The question is whether the current situation will put the safety of the public at risk. My own assessment is that I do not think so. If Members were to go to the Tree-Top Walk, they will realise that the way to get to the Tree-Top Walk is to walk along a road path right next to the New Course of the Singapore Island Country Club.

On a typical day, maybe 100-150 players will use the road. In other words, the number of cars using that road is very limited. Also, as golfers do not tee-off any time of the day, you can expect about 50-100 cars or so using that road mainly from 7 o'clock to 9 o'clock in the morning.

Sir, I have been to the Tree-Top Walk myself. I can assure the Member that the speed limit on the Island Country Club Road is actually 20-25 kph. It is also full of humps. So even if the golfers were impatient and wanted to speed, it is not possible for them to speed because of the

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many humps on the road. Hence, from my personal observation, the speed on that road is being observed at 20-25 kph. From time to time, I play golf there and I have noticed that all have to drive very slowly there.

I want to assure the Member that while this concern for safety is a valid one, I do not think members of the public are being exposed to unnecessary risks. Of course, the question is whether there is any other alternative. One alternative will be for us to cut down the trees and build a road directly to the Tree-Top Walk. If we were to do that, then we will be destroying nature. Whether golfers or members of the public, we will just have to learn to co-exist so that we can enjoy nature without risking each other. But more importantly, without risking nature.

Dr Warren Lee (Sembawang): Sir, may I ask the Minister whether he is also aware that in the nature reserves, particularly around the MacRitchie Reservoir trails, there are cyclists who are cycling when they are not authorised to cycle, as stated on the big signs out there? Because these trails are very heavily used by walkers and joggers, especially those people who are on their way to and from the Tree-Top Walk, these cyclists pose a danger, as they believe they are only doing trail cycling, and by their nature, sometimes, they go quite fast without due regard for pedestrains. But in the first place, they are not supposed to be there. My understanding is that there are very few NParks staff available. That is why the suggestion to use CCTVs. In that kind of context, Sir, it is a very enclosed area and not a wide open space. Perhaps, we should still give it a thought.

Mr Lim Swee Say: Sir, Dr Warren Lee is correct that cyclists are not allowed to use the hiking trail because that would pose a danger and inconvenience to the

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hikers. What NParks has done is to work very closely with the Singapore Amateur Cycling Association and the various cycling groups. In fact, according to the assessment of NParks, the situation has improved. Over the last few months, the Singapore Amateur Cycling Association and the various cycling groups have come together to promote greater awareness among their members by encouraging them not to go on to the hiking trail. Those who want to do cycling should use the biking trail.

Sir, we do have biking trails along the perimeters of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. We are extending these biking trails so that hopefully, over time, there will be more biking trails for the bikers. The bottomline is that the bikers should not go on the hiking trail and the hikers should not go on the biking trail. As long as they keep away from each other, things will be all right. Last year, of the about 150 offences, none of them were due to illegal cycling in our nature reserves. In other words, the cyclists indeed have been cooperating.