SWIMMING LAGOONS AT SENTOSA

SWIMMING LAGOONS AT SENTOSA: 1.

Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) if the lagoons at Sentosa are safe for swimming; and (b) if so, why do they have the highest record of six drownings in the same location in the last 13 months.

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The Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Lim Hng Kiang): Mr Speaker, Sir, Sentosa Development Corporation takes the safety of beach-goers very seriously. SDC has a team of trained and certified lifeguards manning the beaches from 9 am to 7 pm daily. More lifeguards are also deployed during peak periods to cope with the increased crowds. For example, Sentosa currently has six towers and one high chair for the entire three-kilometre beach. This density is twice that of the Gold Coast, where there is only one tower per kilometre of beach. Also, SDC undertakes regular works to maintain the sand gradient along the beaches so that the waters are safer to swim in.

Of the five drowning incidents last year and the most recent incident in January on Sentosa, two of the victims were suspected to have consumed alcohol. In all these incidents, the victim strayed outside the roped-in areas designated for swimming. These roped-in areas are marked by a string of floats and two flags on the beach, and are closely supervised by lifeguards.

SDC deeply regrets the loss of lives in the drowning incidents. SDC has stepped up its efforts to raise public awareness of beach and water safety. In March 2005, SDC launched a campaign using posters and brochures to educate beach-goers of safety guidelines. Lifeguards also share water safety tips with beach-goers during their regular patrols.

SDC's efforts alone will not be enough. To improve beach safety, the public has to play its part too and take precautions for their personal safety. Sentosa's beaches are not enclosed lagoons but part of the open sea. In this environment, swimmers will be exposed to the natural tidal, wave and wind conditions, as well as to marine creatures. This is not peculiar to Sentosa. Hence,

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beach-goers at Sentosa are strongly advised to exercise the same level of caution as they would in the open sea.

I wish to reassure Members that SDC will continue to monitor the situation and review the current beach safety measures to ensure that Sentosa's beaches remain safe to beach-goers.

Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong (Non-Constituency Member): Sir, the Minister has actually not answered my question on whether it is safe for swimming, because if it is safe for swimming, there would not have been so many drownings in such a short time. Experts have said - it was reported in the newspapers - that the gradient and the coral reef actually sink in at the roped in area, and it becomes a danger zone for the beach-goers. Parents of young boys know that it is not a safe place for swimming.

Mr Speaker: What is your question, Mr Chia?

Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong: Is it actually safe for swimming? The Ministry should do a thorough research into the gradient of the lagoons to ensure that it is safe for swimming.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Mr Speaker, as I mentioned in my reply just now, the Sentosa Development Corporation regularly reviews the beach gradient to make sure that it remains safe for beach-goers to go to. The lagoons are part of the open sea and are subject to the various tidal wave conditions. So, when people swim at the Sentosa beaches, they must realise that they are actually swimming in the open sea.

In Singapore, there is an average of 40-50 drowning incidents along our coastline. Sentosa beaches are part of this coastline. Beach-goers should take all precautions when they are swimming in the open sea.