Preliminary plans include 30km stretch of waterfront promenade and a reservoir
SINGAPORE — More than a year after plans were first announced to free up prime land for development by consolidating all container port activities in Tuas, Singaporeans have been given a glimpse of the vast transformation that could take place along the Republic’s southern front.
Preliminary conceptual plans unveiled by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) under its draft Master Plan include an uninterrupted 30km stretch of waterfront promenade that extends from Labrador Park to Marina South and encompasses Pulau Brani, a new reservoir created between the offshore island and Tanjong Pagar, and new residential and commercial districts along the coastline.
The Greater Southern Waterfront — with a land area about three times the size of Marina Bay — is “envisioned to be a seamless extension of the city and will open up new live-work-play opportunities”, the URA said.
The area was identified in the Land Use Plan published at the start of the year as one of two new commercial nodes. During the National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also alluded to it when he sketched out ambitious long-term development plans.
The URA said the plan for this “large-scale endeavour” will be worked out over the coming years and it welcomes ideas from the public for the new waterfront area.
The relocation of the City Terminals at Tanjong Pagar, Keppel and Pulau Brani by 2027 and the Pasir Panjang Terminal thereafter will free up 1,000ha of land for development.
The proposed reservoir could retain rainwater from the Greater Southern Waterfront and store excess water from Marina Reservoir. Differentiated waterfront districts could be built in areas such as Labrador, Tanjong Pagar and Pulau Brani. A network of canals, lined with shops and cafes, running through the new neighbourhoods comprising low- and mid-rise developments is also on the cards.
The city centre could also be extended southwards and be integrated with housing and businesses at the waterfront.
The land that will be freed up by the relocation of the container terminals may also allow for an expansion of public spaces. The Central Linear Park linking Marina Boulevard to Straits Boulevard could extend into the Greater Southern Waterfront, creating a pedestrian link to the area. This new axis could be designated a car-free zone, the authority said.
A green corridor linking Labrador Park, Berlayer Creek and Mount Faber to Pulau Brani could also be created and be connected to the Gardens by the Bay and the islandwide green network.
The waterfront promenade — where people can jog, cycle or take a leisurely stroll — will link up all the places of interest along the Greater Southern Waterfront and provide a “unique and varied waterfront experience”, it added.
Source:
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/ura-unveils-concept-greater-southern-waterfront
