Work to enhance stormwater collection pond in Bukit Panjang starts

SINGAPORE - Work has begun on enhancements for Pang Sua Pond in Bukit Panjang, one of the 16 stormwater collection ponds here, with a groundbreaking ceremony at Senja-Cashew Community Club on Sunday morning.

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Here is the statement from the Public Utilities Board:

A boardwalk that enhances connectivity between the Pang Sua Pond and the neighbouring amenities, two lookout decks that provide a panoramic view of the waters, and a multi-purpose stage for performances by the water - these are what residents can look forward to when the Pang Sua Pond undergoes a makeover under PUB's Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Programme.

Guest-of-Honour Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Adviser for the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, unveiled the upcoming ABC Waters project at a groundbreaking ceremony this morning.

A new boardwalk around the Pang Sua Pond is set to become a community focal point, connecting residents to facilities in the vicinity such as the Senja-Cashew Community Club, Bukit Panjang Neighbourhood 5 Park and the future 3G Wellness Centre. Elevated above the water, the boardwalk brings residents closer to water so that they can better enjoy this precious resource.

PUB will also be building two lookout decks that offer panoramic views of the waterfront and a multi-purpose stage for outdoor performances. When completed, the new features will integrate seamlessly with the Community Club, blending in with the tranquil and picturesque surroundings.

The Pang Sua Pond, located south of the Bukit Panjang Neighbourhood 5 Park, is a stormwater collection pond that collects runoff from the surrounding areas before it is pumped to the Upper Seletar Reservoir for storage.

As part of the transformation, PUB and the National University of Singapore (NUS) with Deltares will be test-bedding a new ABC Waters design feature - in-stream wetlands. To be located at the mouth of the adjoining Pang Sua East Canal, the trial will test the effectiveness of in-stream wetlands in treating the dry weather flow1 before it drains into the pond.

Together with the floating wetlands that will be constructed in the Pang Sua Pond, these ABC Waters design features will help to cleanse water naturally using plants, while beautifying the surrounding landscape and enhancing biodiversity. To further improve water quality in the Pang Sua Pond, aerators and a recirculation system will be installed.

The ABC Waters project at Pang Sua Pond will commence construction in 3Q 2014 and is expected to complete by the 2nd quarter of 2016.

Mr Tan Nguan Sen, PUB's Chief Sustainability Officer, said: "Nestled in the heart of Bukit Panjang, the Pang Sua Pond is a place where residents can relax and catch up with one another by the water. With the ABC Waters makeover, we are further shaping the place into one where communities naturally connect - either via the boardwalk where residents can traverse seamlessly to various parts of the neighbourhood, or at the lookout decks and performance stage where one can bond with your families and neighbours by the waterfront."

The ABC Waters Programme was launched by PUB in 2006 to transform Singapore's water bodies beyond their utilitarian purpose into beautiful and clean streams, rivers and lakes, creating a vibrant City of Gardens and Water. Over 100 potential locations have been identified for implementation over the next 20 years.

To date, 23 ABC Waters projects have been completed by PUB. Another eight projects are undergoing construction and 15 other projects have been identified for implementation over the next five years by PUB.