Friday, January 29, 2010

First Eco-Town in Punggol

As published in The Straits Times
28 Jan 2010 (Thursday)

By Jessica Cheam

PUNGGOL will be developed into Singapore's first eco-town, with features that capitalise on nature and green technologies.

Housing Board's chief executive Tay Kim Poh on Thursday said the former fishing village will be used as a 'living laboratory' to try out innovative green features, such as in energy, water and waste management, as part of the sustainable development blueprint.

Right from the planning stage, Punggol has been designed to promote sustainable living. Punggol Town is planned such that it has smaller, more intimate estates with common green, a wide range of housing with supporting facilities, and a well integrated public transport network and enhanced accessibility for residents.

In addition, one of the key green initiatives for Punggol is the introduction of a waterway traversing through the town. 'Leveraging on the waterway, Punggol will herald a new generation of eco-living concepts in the next decade and beyond,' said a statement from the Housing Board.

Speaking on the second day of an an international housing conference hosted by HDB, Mr Tay also announced that the Board is also pushing ahead with its solar test-bedding project and will be installing solar panels in four precincts in Tampines, Bukit Panjang, Tanjong Pagar and Marine Parade.

'As the largest developer in Singapore, we have the responsibility to promote environmental sustainability. We hope to achieve cost-effective solar PV solutions suited for our local environment that could ultimately be replicated in other HDB towns, and the whole of Singapore,' he said.

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