Friday, September 08, 2006
[RealEdge] TodayOnline Forum : Punggol 21 still doesn't add up
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| Punggol 21 still doesn't add up Like Marina Bay, Govt can also transform Punggol with a nine-month masterplan Friday ?September 8, 2006 Letter from Selina Ang I refer to the article "The green thumbs-up" (Sept 7). It is nice to know that within just nine months, the Ministry of National Development (MND) has chosen the two winning masterplans for the Gardens by the Bay project. I'm sure the area will be an international attraction that will make Marina Bay a vibrant, exciting location with the integrated resort as its backdrop. I live in Punggol, or as it was touted in the late 1990s, "Punggol 21". In the late 1990s when the MND proposed the development of Punggol estate and was out to get people excited about it, it had projected the estate as a 21st-century town integrated with many components of modern living, embracing innovation in the planning and design of public housing. But in the three years I have lived here and the two years of monitoring the estate before that, only one plaza (which has an NTUC Fairprice supermarket and a Food Court) and three coffeeshops have sprung up. One would have expected a shopping mall at least as big as Sengkang's Compass Point. There are no real recreational or sporting facilities to speak of, no petrol stations, no fast-food outlets, nothing we can relate to the theme of "Town of the 21st Century". There are limited buses going to other estates from Punggol. This new estate, with more young families, would also appreciate having more infant/childcare facilities. The residents were told that the town is not populated enough to warrant such amenities. During the recent General Election, none of the candidates (from the ruling or opposition parties) raised this issue at all. Even the Singapore Sports Council commented that there are no plans for a stadium or sports facilities in Punggol. An archery field opened two years ago, only to become an eyesore as no one seems to be using it. It's good to hear that the Singapore Rugby Union is trying to build its headquarters and fields in Punggol, but we can only cross our fingers and hope this plans comes through. If the Government is willing to fund the relevant agencies to build amenities in Punggol, people will come and eventually the town will evolve and become more vibrant. It is a chicken and egg situation. How can one attract more residents to the estate when it is still seen as a dead town? I believe many residents like myself are wondering if we should just sell our flats after five years and move to more established estates. But who would want to buy our flats if the area is as quiet then? I hope the MND will show as much enthusiasm for this town as the attention given to Marina Bay, even if Marina Bay is hailed as the next big attraction for Singapore that can bring in the big bucks and boost the economy. If the Government is still committed to its initial plans to transform Punggol, I am sure that with a concerted effort, in nine months or less we could choose a masterplan for Punggol, and the transformation of Punggol could happen as quickly as the Marina Bay project. | |
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// posted by Shajahan @ 10:48 AM 