THE Singapore landscape is already painted in glorious shades of green. But it will soon be dotted with blue to seal our reputation as a 'city of gardens and water'.
At a February grassroots dinner, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said: 'The next stage after clean and green Singapore is a vibrant city with clean water and gardens everywhere. This will be done in your lifetime.'
The vision will be realised over the next five years as PUB, the national water agency, rolls out its Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Programme with more than 20 projects islandwide.
In his National Day Rally speech last month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong stirred Singaporeans with his description of the new Punggol 21-plus HDB estate.
Residents will have in their midst a freshwater lake, created by damming up the Punggol and Serangoon rivers. Weaving through town will be a waterway with parks, gardens and alfresco dining on its banks.
Punggol will not be the only estate transformed. More than 20 projects have been planned. They include:
Rochor Canal Fancy a walk-on-water experience? Well, you can when a planned boardwalk, which will be built inside Rochor Canal, is realised.
The place will be home not just to bazaar stall operators, but also to buskers and performers.
River Campus, Siglap Canal (main head picture) Schools along the East Coast Park will soon be organising more activities on the water for its students. A boat shed and a launching platform, after all, are in the works.
Bishan Park (right) A big canal separates Bishan residents from a beautiful park. That is set to change. Footbridges will be built over the canal, and streams - with filtered water safe for kids to frolic in - will be introduced.
Lower Seletar Reservoir On the cards are a water stage where outdoor cultural shows will be held, a heritage bridge which spans the reservoir affording visitors a scenic view of their surroundings, as well as a kayaking centre and viewing galleries.
Pandan Reservoir This place will be turned into a major watersports centre offering kayaking, sailing, rowing and canoeing.
Those who want to watch the action up close can do so on the floating decks and viewing platforms which have been planned
Tanjong Katong Complex Can you turn an urban centre into a little green oasis?
Of course.
The plan is to build boardwalks over Geylang River, and to introduce water features all around.
And presto, nature comes to you even when you are in an urban environment.
