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Growth of a green town
Despite a series of setbacks in its early stages, Punggols progress has seen the area completely transformed over the past 40 years or so. Today, this small town is a well-developed eco-town where many want to live, work and play. We find out just how far it has come, and whats in store for it.
by Cheryl Marie Tay
The Singapore we know today is often lauded for the remarkable rate of progress she has achieved in the past 50 years. And though the aforementioned progress is never more evident than on the skyline, particularly in the world-renowned Marina Bay area, Singapores heartlands are not far behind.
One such area is Punggol. Master plans are already in place for areas like Jurong, Tampines and Paya Lebar, and Punggol is no exception. From new residential developments to parks and a waterway, the area has become far more livable ever since the National Day Rally on 19 August 2007, when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced Punggol 21+, a development plan that is essentially a revamp of the Punggol 21 plan announced 11 years earlier in 1996 incidentally, in then-PM Goh Chok Tongs National Day Rally speech.
Humble beginnings
As with many other areas in Singapore, Punggol was once a rural estate. It was filled with farmhouses, dirt tracks running through it, plantations, and pig, fish and poultry farms. Instead of the high-rise residential buildings we see today, kampongs and low-rise residences were common, as were vegetable and orchid farms along the Buangkok and Cheng Lim farmways.
Punggol had its share of dark times as well. In 1942, during World War II, around 400 Chinese civilians lost their lives to Japanese forces in what was later known as the Punggol Beach Massacre (part of the infamous Sook Ching Massacre). Punggol Point, the northern tip of the area where the tragedy took place, is now an official national heritage site.
Heartland revamp
Punggol 21 was in line with the Remaking Our Heartlands (ROH) plans to transform young, middle-aged and mature HDB estates into more vibrant homes for Singaporeans, so as to meet the changing needs of an ever-evolving community.
A HDB source said, Under ROH, Punggol Eco Town was envisioned to be developed as The Sustainable Waterfront Town in the Tropics. This presented us with a very good opportunity to take sustainable urban planning and urban design to new heights, fully integrated with green and blue strategies that will offer a unique waterfront living experience. Since then, much work has been done to realize these plans.
Pre-millennial planning
The government began phasing out Punggols farms in the 1970s, with the last pig farm in the area closed in 1990. Then began the realization of the initial Punggol 21 plan announced in 1996: a modern, compact vision pedestrian-friendly residential estate with integrated and accessible carparks and transportation, commercial facilities to serve residents needs, and recreational facilities for waterfront activities.
Punggol was envisioned as Singapores first eco-town, and as such, much effort went into including green features as prevalently and practically as possible. A common green for every estate was to serve as a focal point at which the local community could meet and mingle, and easily accessible MRT and LRT systems were to be constructed so residents would not have to walk further than 350 metres to take the train. A town centre, commercial centre and local shop clusters were also planned, alongside facilities on the Punggols coastline for recreation and relaxation.
Unfortunately, these plans were not brought to fruition, in light of the Asian economic crisis of 1997. Construction began the following year, but ground to a halt when demand for new flats plummeted.
Recessions and roadblocks
Finally, in 2001, the first precinct in Punggol was completed. The three HDB blocks, consisting of 1,500 residential units, are still located at the gateway of Punggol Town, on Edgefield Plains, characterized by their iconic sail sculpture.
Still, things were not smooth-sailing. In 2003, Singapores construction industry ran into financial problems, resulting in only one-fifth of the 80,000 planned housing units being constructed.
The setbacks to Punggols development did not end there. After PM Lee announced Punggol 21+ in 2007, Singapores economy was hit by the Global Financial Crisis of 2008, further putting the plans for Punggol on hold.
Post-millennial progress
Despite the initial challenges Punggol faced , it still forged ahead. Treelodge@Punggol, the HDBs very first Eco-Precinct, was completed in 2010, about three years after work on the development had begun in March 2007. According to the HDB, it was the culmination of green innovations, and a benchmark for a new generation of eco-living concepts in the next decade and beyond.
Treelodge@Punggol was followed by Punggol Waterway, another major green project which today meanders through Punggol Eco Town. HDBs architects and engineers took great pains to ensure that it was constructed in an environmentally sustainable manner, and to preserve as much of the areas biodiversity as possible. The 4.2 km man-made Waterway was designed to be the centrepiece of the estate, and officially opened in October 2011.
In 2012, the HDB unveiled the second phase of the master plan for Punggol, featuring seven distinctive districts, each with a unique identity and character.
Home, green home
Punggols Northshore District is set to be the areas first seafront housing district, (and) its design will capitalize on its waterfront location and rich biodiversity.
Indeed, Punggol Northshore has been touted as a smart and sustainable district, with design concepts to enhance residents lives through advanced technology and abundant greenery. It will be the first housing district to be directly connected to an LRT station. Called The Community Spine, this link is a sheltered two-storey walkway between the Samudera LRT station and the Coastal Promenade.
There will also be a seafront commercial centre in the district with a waterfront esplanade that will offer a view of the Straits of Johor, as well as the Central Green, an eco-friendly feature with a dragonfly pond, bioswales, and other green elements that enhance both the landscape and environment.
Whats more, the HDB blocks in the area will boast solar-ready roofs, intelligent car parks that will automatically ensure there are sufficient parking lots for residents with season parking tickets, and smart waste management to optimize the resources needed for waste collection.
A promising present
According to the HDB, A new generation of public housing is takingshape, with the launch of the first housing projects in Northshore District in May 2015.
In line with the HDBs housing plans for Punggol, several BTO developments have sprung up in the estate, including Matilda Court and Waterway Sunray. The response from aspiring homeowners has been encouraging, with 5,148 applications for the total of 1,744 units launched at both projects. The first BTO development along the waterway, Waterway Woodcress, was completed in Q1 this year. At present, Punggol boasts 30,900 residential units.
Looking ahead, the next phase of Punggols continuing development is to be guided by five key ideas:
Signature waterfront housing districts
Each district will have its own unique character, so as to give residents a stronger sense of belonging to their respective neighbourhoods.
Punggol Downtown: A new northeast destination
As the Punggol community grows, the town centre will be further expanded into the Punggol Downtown. More civic spaces, such as Punggol Town Square, will make the new downtown area even more vibrant.
An even greener Punggol
Smart initiatives will debut in Punggol, as its waterfront promenades are integrated with more green parks and corridors. Notably, Old Punggol Road will be converted into a linear 1.5 km long Heritage Trail along which residents can stroll, jog or cycle amid lush greenery.
Great places for the community
More civic and recreational spaces will be created to provide the ideal setting for community gatherings and events.
Moving around Punggol
Transport infrastructure will be improved, and cycling tracks will be built alongside new roads, in order to encourage cleaner commute.
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 | This article was first published in the print version The PropertyGuru News & Views. Download PDF of full print issues or read more stories now! | ||
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