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KENNETH CHENG Today Online 4 Sep 19; SINGAPORE � Residents who may have to live with construction work at their doorstep are not letting up in opposing the proposal for the future Cross Island Line to skirt the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. Nature enthusiasts, for their part, are also sticking to their guns, repeating their objections to the MRT line passing underneath the nature reserve, saying that this could damage fragile ecosystems and harm wildlife. These entrenched positions remain despite assurances this week that both alignment options being explored for Singapore�s eighth MRT line were feasible. The latest assessment report found that the environmental impact of either tunnelling through the nature reserve or going around it could be �adequately managed� with comprehensive mitigating measures and monitoring plans. On Monday (Sept 2), the authorities gazetted for public inspection and feedback the second stage of a report assessing the environmental impact of building the...

KENNETH CHENG Today Online 2 Sep 19; SINGAPORE � The authorities are inviting public feedback on two proposed construction choices for the future Cross Island Line. This is after the second stage of a report assessing the environmental impact of building Singapore�s eighth MRT line was gazetted on Monday (Sept 2). Gazetting allows public inspection of the report and feedback on its findings. The Cross Island Line � which is set to run from Changi to Jurong and is expected to be opened in 2029 with 12 stations first � can either run directly under the Central Catchment Nature Reserve or go around it. It would take a longer route and be more costly to build if it skirts around the reserve. However, both are feasible options when done with comprehensive mitigating measures and monitoring plans, the latest environmental-impact assessment found. How will it affect the nature reserve or residents living around the train line? Here is a rundown of the key points to note. OPTION 1: CUTTING BE...

Vanessa Lim Channel NewsAsia 31 Aug 19; SINGAPORE: A sky park is set to be built above the Bukit Timah canal, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong announced on Saturday (Aug 31). Construction works for the first phase of the new park, a 1.4km elevated stretch that runs from the Rail Corridor to Elm Avenue, will start in 2021 and is expected to be completed within two to three years. The sky park is part of the National Parks Board (NParks) plan to develop the Bukit Timah-Rochor Green Corridor, a linear park that lies between Bukit Timah Road and Dunearn Road. In future, this green corridor may be extended all the way to Kallang Riverside, totalling 11km. Mr Wong said the new green corridor will serve as a crucial green link connecting the three national gardens � Jurong Lake Gardens, Singapore Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay � and help to optimise space. "This space is part of our drainage reserves, which we usually don't touch, but now we're developing a li...

Audrey Tan Straits Times 12 Aug 19; A "green dot" rally is being planned for next month at Hong Lim Park. About 15 young activists in Singapore are organising a climate action rally on Sept 21, in line with the global youth movement inspired by Swedish teen climate champion Greta Thunberg. Next month's event, the Singapore Climate Rally, will be the first physical one in the Republic since the international movement began in August last year, although there have been other social-media climate campaigns here. A permit for the event has been sought by the young organisers and approved by the National Parks Board, which manages Hong Lim Park - an area designated as Speakers' Corner where public protests are allowed. The organisers are also applying for a police permit. The event will feature speeches, a picnic and a postcard-writing session in which participants will be encouraged to send notes urging stronger climate action to their representatives in Parliament and o...