6 August 2010 Mr Mah Bow Tan Minister for National Development CONCEPT PLAN REVIEW 2011 FINAL REPORT OF FOCUS GROUP ON SUSTAINABILITY AND IDENTITY 1 In January this year, you appointed us to co-chair the Focus Group on Sustainability and Identity to discuss how Singapore can continue to grow in a sustainable manner, and to identify ways to strengthen residents’ sense of belonging to Singapore as an endearing home. 2 Our Focus Group has completed our work, and we are pleased to submit our final report for your consideration. This report was finalised after extensive site visits and discussions. It took into account the diverse views of the Focus Group members, which comprised representatives from academia, grassroots, non-governmental organisations and professional institutions. The report also incorporated the views of the public obtained from the Lifestyle Survey 2009 and Online Survey 2010, the Public Forum held on 6 May 2010 and the online feedback website that was opened to the public from 6 to 25 May 2010. 3 We found the Focus Group discussions and public response vibrant and insightful. We are encouraged to note that much is being done at the community level to make Singapore a more sustainable city. We are also heartened to hear that people care about Singapore as their home and that they have many suggestions to offer in enhancing their sense of belonging to Singapore. We are grateful for the active participation of the public in providing us useful feedback. 4 We feel that the Focus Group consultation journey has been a meaningful experience for engaging Singapore society in drawing up aspirations and ideas for the long-term development of Singapore through the Concept Plan, and we are pleased to have been part of it. On behalf of our members, we would like to thank you for engaging us in this consultation process and for giving us the opportunity to contribute to shaping Singapore into a sustainable city and an endearing home. Ambassador Ong Keng Yong & Mr Lee Tzu Yang Co-chairmen of Focus Group on Sustainability & Identity MINISTER FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SINGAPORE 10 August 2010 Ambassador Ong Keng Yong and Mr Lee Tzu Yang Co-chairmen, Focus Group on Sustainability and Identity Dear CONCEPT PLAN 2011 REVIEW FINAL REPORT OF FOCUS GROUP ON SUSTAINABILITY AND IDENTITY Thank you for your letter of 6 August 2010, forwarding me the final report of your Focus Group. 2 The Concept Plan is a key national planning process to help us allocate our limited land resources to achieve economic, environmental and social sustainability outcomes holistically. Sustainable development will become more challenging going forward as further development and growth will potentially stress our environment and limited resources. Hence trade-offs among various goals will be required. 3 We cannot make these trade-offs without consulting the public. Your Focus Group has catalyzed the process of public consultation by engaging a wide segment of the public to think about how we can develop more sustainably and enhance our identity in the process. Over the past few months, your Focus Group held several discussion sessions and conducted dialogues with various community groups and members of the public. I would like to thank the Focus Group for its commitment, time and effort. I am also very encouraged by the public response to the consultation process. 4 Your Focus Group has rightly focused on the need to facilitate a change in lifestyle and habits to make our city more sustainable, and put forth interesting ideas on how the physical planning and policies can be geared to achieve the transition to a more sustainable lifestyle. I have asked URA and the relevant government agencies to study your recommendations very carefully with a view to implementing them. 5 I thank all your Focus Group members and all the individuals who have actively contributed ideas to this report. Yours MAH BOW TAN FOCUS GROUP Co-chairmen Mr Lee Tzu Yang Ambassador Ong Keng Yong Chairman, Shell Companies in Singapore Director, Institute of Policy Studies Members Mr Allen Ang Aik Leng Dr Shawn Lum Chairman, Green Committee of North West President, Community Development Council Nature Society (Singapore) Mr Ashvinkumar s/o Kantilal Ms Goh Sin Hwee President, Singapore Institute of Architects News Editor, Lianhe Zaobao Ms Chang Li Lin Mr Ken Ong Kwee Tiong Associate Director, 1st Vice-Chairman, People’s Association Institute of Policy Studies Youth Movement, Central Youth Council Mr Cheang Kok Kheong Mr Andreas Schaffer Alternate to 2nd Vice President, Real Estate Sustainability Director, Developers’ Association of Singapore Earth Observatory of Singapore Dr Ee Chye Hua Professor Seeram Ramakrishna Honorary Secretary, Chairman, National Committee of Engineering Home Nursing Foundation Organisation, Institution of Engineers, Singapore Ms Gamar Bte Abdul Aziz Mr Daren Shiau Vee Lung Course Manager and Lecturer, School of Lawyer; Author; Communication, Arts and Social Sciences, Member, Central Singapore Community Singapore Polytechnic Development Council Mr Ganesh Kalyanam Mr John Suan Director, Office of Student & Graduate Affairs Chief Executive Officer, and The Republic Cultural Centre, Singapore Anglican Community Services Republic Polytechnic Mr Edwin Khew Mr Ho Jun Yi Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, President, 31st Executive Committee, IUT Global Pte Ltd; Chairman, Sustainable National University of Singapore Students’ Union Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) (NUSSU) Mdm Ruby Tan Associate Professor Shirlena Huang Curriculum Planning Officer, Geography, Head, Department of Geography, Ministry of Education National University of Singapore Mr Tiew Chew Meng Mr Isa Kamari Vice Chairman, Environment & Health Architect; writer Committee of South West Community Development Council Dr Kua Harn Wei Assistant Professor, Dr Belinda Yuen School of Design and Environment, Immediate Past President, National University of Singapore Singapore Institute of Planners (Alternate rep: Ms Evlyn W.Y. Cheong) Mr Francis Lee President, Raffles Marina Mdm Zainon Bte Salleh Chairman, Council Member, Singapore Institute of International Year of the Reef 2008/Blue Plan 09 Landscape Architects Mrs Lim Lai Cheng Principal, Raffles Institution CONTENTS FOREWORD 1 INTRODUCTION 1 Building a sustainable city 1 Making Singapore an endearing home 3 Key recommendations 5 2 BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE CITY 6 Strengthen green infrastructure 6 Foster more sharing and ownership of sustainable practices 16 3 MAKING SINGAPORE AN ENDEARING HOME 19 Cherish and safeguard our built and natural heritage 19 Enhance our people’s experience of our built and natural heritage 26 Involve the community in shaping an endearing Singapore 30 4 CONCLUSION 32 ANNEX A SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS 34 ANNEX B SUMMARY OF PUBLIC FEEDBACK 36 FOREWORD This Focus Group was co-chaired by Mr Lee Tzu Yang (Chairman, Shell Companies in Singapore) and Ambassador Ong Keng Yong (Director, Institute of Policy Studies). This report presents the proposals and recommendations of the Focus Group on The Focus Group members were drawn from a wide spectrum of society, including Sustainability and Identity presented to the Ministry of National Development (MND) representatives from community groups, academia, non-governmental organisations and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) for consideration as inputs for the (NGOs), professional institutions, business associations, grassroots and youths. formulation of the Concept Plan 2011 (CP2011). The Focus Group held extensive discussions over 12 sessions between 23 January and The Concept Plan is a strategic land use and transportation plan to guide Singapore’s 26 April 2010. The sessions included briefings from government agencies such as the development over the next 40 to 50 years. Long-term planning enables Singapore URA, Housing and Development Board (HDB), Land Transport Authority (LTA), National to meet its future needs through sustainable growth. The Concept Plan is reviewed Parks Board (NParks), Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR), and every 10 years to keep pace with changing trends in economic and social needs. organisations such as South West Community Development Council, as well as site The last major review of the Concept Plan was carried out in 2001. visits to various locations in Singapore relevant to the discussion topics. These included Kampong Glam, Little India, Southern Ridges, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Changi The review of the Concept Plan is currently ongoing. The current review aims to Boardwalk. Findings from the Lifestyle Survey 2009 and the Online Survey 2010 were chart Singapore’s long term growth directions towards sustaining economic growth, also shared with the Focus Group to facilitate their deliberations. The schedule of providing a good living environment for all, and building an inclusive society where meetings and visits is in Annex A. the needs of various sectors of the population are taken care of, a sustainable city that balances growth with responsible environmental management, and an A public forum was held on 6 May 2010 for the Focus Group to share their preliminary endearing home where people have a strong sense of belonging to Singapore. recommendations with the public and to obtain public input. The preliminary recommendations were also posted online for feedback. The feedback provided was As the Concept Plan will shape Singapore’s future, it is important that the review then taken into consideration by the Focus Group in finalising their recommendations seeks the views and aspirations of the larger community. Hence, as part of the (please see Annex B for the public feedback received). CP2011 review, URA has conducted a comprehensive public consultation exercise comprising a Lifestyle Survey, an Online Survey, Focus Group consultations and public URA is pleased to receive the ideas and recommendations by the Focus Group on forums to provide a variety of channels for the public to provide input to the Concept Sustainability and Identity. We will study the proposals and incorporate them, where Plan review. appropriate, in reviewing the Concept Plan. The draft CP2011 will then be exhibited for public feedback before it is finalised.