Singapore Coastal Reclamation: History And Problems

Academic Seminar of Indonesian Students Association (PPI) Syamsidik Universiti Sains Malaysia – June 20th 20003

Singapore Coastal Reclamation: History and Problems

Syamsidik Graduate Student at School of Mathematical Sciences Universiti Sains Malaysia 11800 – Penang Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT. Singapore has been undergoing coastal reclamation for four decades. As its population grows until more than four million, the Singapore government faces problem in providing ample land for residential, industrial and municipal activities. Some waterfronts and offshore islands in Singapore have been deformed or enlarged by some coastal reclamation projects. The reclamation has been particularly devastating. Some problems, namely environmental and territorial problems, have arisen some concerns from its neighboring countries. Singapore coastal reclamations have degraded some environmental quality parameters. Severe degradation of the marine environment has resulted, either by direct destruction of coral reef habitat, or indirect effects of increased suspended sediment concentration and fish mortality. Recently, the problems appear to be a regional problem since the projects receive many concerns, especially of environmentalists. Indonesia, which has contributed landfill material for more than two decades, has to face some environmental problems due to sands dredging and exporting activity. This paper is written to anchor some internal and external problems generated by Singapore coastal reclamation.

Reasons of Coastal Reclamation history of intensive efforts to overcome land shortage. Prior to 1960, Singapore had 581.5 Singapore is located between km2 of its productive land latitudes 1o09’ N and 1o29’N and longitudes (library.thinkquest.org). A rapid growth of 103o38’E and 104o06’E. Singapore is a its commercial activities and its population highly urbanized society and already well force the Singapore government to provide known as a city-state, share its borderline more lands. This is also to fulfill the with Malaysia at its northern part and transport needs, the latest of which include Indonesia at its southern part (Figure 1). roads, expressway, the Mass Rapid Transit This Republic consists of a main system (MRT), and the port and airport island and over 60 small offshore islands facilities. with fringing and patch reefs. Situated in an The reclamation scenario seems international waterway, Singapore has been being continuously performed and still long recognized as one of international trade becomes the best solution for this small-but- hubs. rich republic. Scenario of the latest The British firstly introduced coastal Singapore reclamation scheme was expected reclamation in Singapore in 1819 by to increase land area in Singapore by about reclaiming the swampy part of Singapore 100 km2 by the year 2030. Some projects, river mouth (Chia et al., 1988). However, a namely Pulau Tekong, Changi and Pulau large-scale of coastal reclamation was Ubin Reclamation, were planned to convey initiated in the mids-1960s. East Coast this ambition. However, amazingly, the Reclamation Scheme, reclaiming 19 ha of Singapore government moves beyond the land at 14 km East Coast road, started the last prediction of completion. The Singapore Ministry of Urban and Redevelopment Academic Seminar of Indonesian Students Association (PPI) Syamsidik Universiti Sains Malaysia – June 20th 20003

Figure 1. Map of Singapore

Authority (URA) has published the latest competitor for Singapore. At this time, PTP reclamation plan on North Eastern Concept can serve 1.5 million TEU’s per year, plan, revealing the reclamation on Pulau compared to Jurong 8 million TEU’s per Tekong, Changi, and Pulau Ubin to be year. However, PTP has just effectively completed in ten years, started in 2000 started its operation since last year. (Figure 2). Meanwhile Jurong port has been activated Singapore expects to have 760 km2 for decades. in 2010, which is about 30% bigger than its land prior to 1960. Until year 2000, the coastal reclamations have been carried on Environmental Concerns Pulau Jurong, Tuas, Pasir Panjang port, Pulau Sentosa, Marina Bay, Kranji, Reclamation is conducted by means Punggol, Changi and Pulau Tekong. The of dredging and dumping material to persistence of having more land is not only reclamation site. These activities are proven by reclamation but also by removing potential to render hydrodynamic regimes about 60 shipyards from Singapore and to pollute water quality. Dredging is of waterfront to some other countries (Kompas, source of suspended sediment dispersed in a November 29th 2002). water body. The reclamation material, In addition, the coastal reclamation according London Convention 1970, should at Jurong is not only aimed to provide more not contain any hazardous chemical land for residential purpose but also to substance. However, suspended sediment, compete the neigbouring port, Tanjung by itself, carries some water quality Pelepas which is just opposite of the Jurong problems. Suspended sediment is potential Port. Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), which to deliver a number of Chemical Oxygen belongs to Malaysia, are rising as a potential Demand (COD), which is able to press Academic Seminar of Indonesian Students Association (PPI) Syamsidik Universiti Sains Malaysia – June 20th 20003

Figure 2. Concept Plan of North Eastern Island (www.ura.gov.sg)

Dissolved Oxygen (DO) to a severe level of important roles in preserving aquatic life, aquatic life degradation (Jinchi and Jinxiu, especially of breeding insect’s larvae. The 1999). According to Thomann and Mueller concern is also arisen by the fact that some coral (1987), a moderate concentration DO in water to reefs have been destructed by the reclamation persevere aquatic life is about 5 mg/L. projects. According to Water Research Institute Material of reclamation (landfill) is not (http://business.wri.org), around 60% of total come from Singapore itself. The material is coral reef area has been lost owing to near shore dredged from Riau islands (Indonesia). reclamation. It is also found that the increasing Therefore, dredging is not a major concern for of suspended sediment concentrations have Singapore government since the dredging sites triggered declines in coral cover in almost all are out of its authority. Dumping process and observed sites since 1980. Some experts the morphology deformation are reserved tasks estimate that, compared to conditions 50 years for Singapore government. ago, about 70% of coral reef in Singapore are Reclamation projects have covered degraded. The degradations show a progressive some mudflats, particularly on Pulau Tekong effect, which are mostly caused by coastal and Jurong Bay. Jurong Reclamation scheme reclamation. was carried out to develop the foreshore to Coastal deformation may seriously Jurong Industrial Estate, which reclaimed 1,416 affect the marine environment and lead to Ha including mudflat. Meanwhile, Pulau increase water turbidity, sediment deposition, Tekong Reclamation is underway to reclaim and also disturbance to biological organisms. Lu about 1700 Ha, mostly mudflat. et al. (2000) has conducted a research on Technically, the chosen locations are Punggol coastal reclamation (in Selat Johor well justified. However, the mudflat has channel). The three-year annual survey has Academic Seminar of Indonesian Students Association (PPI) Syamsidik Universiti Sains Malaysia – June 20th 20003 proven that the reclamation has caused water three types of fish production effects, namely turbidity and sedimentation increased. There short-term effects, long-term effects, and was a sharp decrease of macrobenthos number in indirect effects. Short-term effects are found as a the area. The decrement suggests that result of mortality to adult finfish, shellfish, and reclamation has a damaging effect, which may mollusks. Long-term effects are impacts lead to the increasing of benthic animal showing in mortality of the bigger fish mortality. The benthic community may re- population including juveniles and young-of- colonize. However, this study, when it was year. Indirect effects can only be shown in a completed, found that there was no any re- lower tropic organism that function as food colonization of benthic community in the area. resources. These effects, eventually, disturb the A research conducted by Kenny and Rees (2000) food web in the area. However, off-site food proves that the re-colonization is fully recovered web losses may occur to the extent that food after 7 months. resources are lost to consumer species outside At recent reclamation project on North the reclamation area. Eastern Reclamation scheme, which covers The remained question raised after reading Pulau Tekong and Changi Bay Reclamation, has the above passages is about Singapore also arisen some complaints including from government accountability to conserve its Malaysia government. The project is potential to marine life. Many countries, including lowering water quality in the area and placing Indonesia, put an Environmental Impact navigational way in a susceptible condition. The Assessment (EIA) as an obligatory procedure for current around the area may rise up to 0.78 m/s, any project before it’s started. Presumably the compared to the condition before reclamation, project will generate adverse impacts to nature which is 0.50 m/s. Suspended Sediment and human, the EIA is mandated. However, concentration is potential to increase up to 200 Singapore practices discretionary EIA rather mg/L, which is considered severely polluted than a mandatory one. Singapore has a reason in (Syamsidik and Koh, 2003). Regarding Pulau doing so. Singapore acknowledges itself as a Tekong reclamation, corroborative evidences are country that already well conceived on physical only found when the projects completed. plans to allow for economic development and However, an Environmental Impacts the same time provide for the safeguard of the Assessment (EIA) is one of secured methods to environment. Although the reports on the assess the potential impacts. Therefore, despite assessments are not available for public access, resulted from a predictive study, the mentioned Singapore has completed eights EIA in 1995 potential impacts should be seriously taken into (Chia, 1998). The secrecy is not specifically account. applied in Singapore. Other countries, such as For information, Singapore has accessed Indonesia, also adopt a similar policy. This London Convention on dumping material on makes difficult to convince public whether the 1972. The convention mandates to all the projects are environmentally justified or not. signatory countries to do by all means to prevent their soil from dumping hazardous or Indonesia: A Problem Contributor contaminated material. London Convention is closely related to Basel Convention on Indonesia has been contributing a lot to transboundary movement of hazardous material. Singapore coastal reclamation since 1970s. The last convention has just being accessed by However, the contributions put Indonesia in a Singapore in 1982. conflicting situation. Concerns come from The most concern thing of the reclamation Indonesia are territory problem and is the potential dispersion of the landfill material environmental problem. These have been in form of suspended sediment in the coastal. become issues in Indonesia. Some Indonesian The sediment may put aquatic life in an alerted politicians said that the reclamation can move level. Many marine scientists have proved such Singapore border farther from its existing off anxieties. According to Grigalunas et al. (2001), shore parts, which means that Indonesia will the effects triggered by sediment can be found in Academic Seminar of Indonesian Students Association (PPI) Syamsidik Universiti Sains Malaysia – June 20th 20003 lose some hundreds kilometer square of its water Therefore, the adverse impacts generated by the territory. sand dredging activities are not fully Pulau Nipah is the closest island to investigated. Singapore, which could be another Sipadan- Some NonGovernmental Organizations Ligitan to Indonesia if the matter is not (NGOs) have initiated to raise this problem to meticulously investigated. However, Indonesia the public. Two NGOs bring the matter to Ministry of Foreign Affair has denied such International Court Justice (ICJ), namely Center anxious in March 2003. The Ministry said that for Indonesia Forest Studies (LPHI) and Singapore and Indonesia are bound with Laksana Samudera. The two accuse that the bilateral agreement on their border territory. The Singapore government intentionally ignores the agreement is accredited by United Nations and adverse impacts and keeps on importing the cannot be changed by any convention without an material regardless of the impacts. The remained agreement from the two parties. confusing problem on this legal action is why Singapore has imported sands/landfill these two NGOs do not bring Indonesia from Indonesian waters since 24 years ago, accountability, simultaneously with Singapore. particularly from Riau waters. Singapore still Ideally, Indonesia should take responsibility on needs 167 million meter cubic of sands for the the matter at the same weight. next 10 years to complete its goal. The imported Indonesia government policy on Sands reclamation material has made Indonesia has to export shows inconsistency. In February 2002, bear with Sin$3.09 billion of loss because of the the government halted the activities for difference price between the price at dredging temporary in response to many complaints from sites (Indonesia) and reclamation sites environmentalists. In May 2002, then, Indonesia (Singapore). Sand exports in the next 10 years has revoked an earlier regulation through a will costs Sin$13,68 billion. According to Ir. Presidential decree. Under Presidential Decree Afni, a house representative member from No. 33/2002, sea sand mining was to be Reformation Faction (Fraksi Reformasi), the controlled and supervised by central government price is equal to selling all State–Owned through a special team lead by the Ministry of Companies (BUMN) for 12 years (Kompas, Trade and Industry. The decree stated that all May 16th 2002). The sand exporting activity has sand exports require a permit from the central been practiced since 1979 and has contributed government. This was the time when sand 500 million meter cubic sands from Riau. dredging company number increased up to 70 The exacerbated condition was started companies. when autonomy policy applied in 1999. Later, On February 28th, 2003, Ministry According to the policy, every district has a of Trade and Industry issued a decree to, once right to do by all means to increase its income. again, ban sand dredging and exports for To do so, Riau government gave licenses to temporary. The decree was taken base upon two some companies to export sands to Singapore. considerations. Firstly, the government needs to Compared to the condition in 1980 when there reformulate a proper procedure of the sand were only three companies that dredged the dredging and exporting so that the activity will sands in Riau waters, there were 18 companies also conserve natural resources, especially in 1998, and 71 in 2002 (Sinaga and Suprato, marine resources. Secondly, the decision was 2001). taken to provide an ample time for Indonesia The dredging activities have caused four and Singapore to re-look to their borderline. islands in Kecamatan Karimun (A county in However, as stated earlier, Ministry of Riau Province-Indonesia) disappear. The Foreign Affair has denied the second dredging also destroyed some mangrove forests. consideration. Therefore, the remained problem Furthermore, suspended sediment concentrations is natural conservation. were dramatically increased and later damaged Confusingly, Head of Energy and aquatic life (fish and corral reef). The unaware Mining Office in Riau said that Riau would environmentally habits of Indonesian export its sands to Malaysia since there is no government are notoriously apprehended. restriction to export the sands to the country. He Academic Seminar of Indonesian Students Association (PPI) Syamsidik Universiti Sains Malaysia – June 20th 20003 said the restriction was made by Indonesia conducted and all marine sources in Indonesian government due to the border problem with waters are protected. It is possible that this Singapore (Republika, June 4th 2003). This preference will generate problems to Singapore. clearly impresses that the last Ministry decree on However, that should not be Indonesia’s banning sand export is not well socialized. In the problem. Since, the Singapore has long practiced decree, the banning is imposed not only on the policy. exporting sands to Singapore but also to all sand dredging/exporting activities, regardless the exported country targets.

A Preferable Solution References

Based on some reports, banning sands exports is more favorable one than others. Some Chia LS, 1998. Coastal Management in Singapore: sands dredging companies said that Singapore is institutional arrangements and implementation. more benefited than Indonesia. When there were Ocean and Coastal Management 38(1998): 111- 70 dredging companies, Singapore was 118. reluctantly bought the sands at the price more Chia LS, Habibullah K, Chou LM, 1988. The Coastal 3 Environment Profile of Singapore. International than Sin$1.0/m . Singapore controlled the sand Center for Living Resources and Management prices and sometimes the Singaporean (ICLARM), Manila. Contractors played one dredging company to Grigalunas T, Opaluch JJ, Luo M, 2000. The another. In this situation, the dredging economic costs to fishery marine sediment companies were forced into a war-price disposal: case study of Providence, RI, USA. condition. Kabupaten Karimun, where the most Ecological Economics 38(2001) 47-58. dredging activities were conducted, has just Jinchi, H., and Jinxiu, L., 1999. Impact of sediment received Rp27 billion in 2000 even though the movement on the water quality of Three Gorge dredging has been practiced in its waters for reservoir. Environmental Hydraulics, Lee, decades. Jayawardena and Wang (eds), Balkena, Rotterdam. Flawed law enforcement has reflected a Kenny, A.J., and Rees, H.L., 1994. The effects of mismanagement of marine resources in marine gravel extraction on macrobenthos. Early Indonesia. Until year 2000, Indonesian Navy has post-dredging recolonization. Marine Pollution caught up to 13 illegal dredging ships, which Bulletin. 28 (1994): 442-447. some of them were Korean-owned ships. In Kompas, May 16th 2002. Reklamasi Singapura addition, according to Food and Agriculture Aneksasi Wilayah RI. Daily Newspaper. Jakarta- Organization (FAO), Indonesia is being robbed Indonesia. 1 million ton of fish every year. This proves that Kompas, November 29th 2002. Tanah Air Indonesia Indonesia has not fully guarded it waters Pindah ke Singapura. Daily Newspaper. Jakarta- territory from many illegal activities. Indonesia. Exporting sands involves some official Lu L, Goh BPL, Chou LM, 2002. Effects of coastal reclamation on riverine macrobenthic infauna procedures. The procedures, ideally, should (Sungai Punggol) in Singapore. Journal of control the environmental impacts Aquatic Ecosystem Stress and Recovery simultaneously. However, the impacts are not 9(2002): 127-135. fully investigated and controlled by Indonesian Republika, June 4th 2003. Pasir Laut Riau Diekspor Authority. Therefore, a further sands dredging ke Malaysia. Daily Newspaper. Jakarta- will not ensure the natural conservation. Indonesia. From economical and environmental Sinaga, M., and Suprapto, E., 2001. Tumbal Riau point of view, banning sands dredging and demi Singapura. Kontan Magazine 30/V, Jakarta. exporting is more favorable one for Indonesia, at Syamsidik and Koh, H.L., 2003. Impact assessment least for 10 years from now. This is to ensure a modeling on coastal reclamation at Pulau Tekong. Proceeding Integrating Technology in proper environmental preservation being Academic Seminar of Indonesian Students Association (PPI) Syamsidik Universiti Sains Malaysia – June 20th 20003

Mathematical Sciences. Universiti Sains Malaysia-Penang. In Press. Thomann, R.V., and Mueller, J.A. 1987. Principles of Surface Water Quality Modeling and Control, HarperCollins Publishers Inc., New York-USA.