Anticipated Disamenities to Residents and Commuters Due To Reclamation of Land for Woodlands Checkpoint Expansion

6 Ms Hany Soh asked the Minister for Trade and Industry in view of JTC Corporation's plan to reclaim 44 hectares of land to expand the Woodlands Checkpoint from the third quarter of 2024 (a) whether the Ministry anticipates any disamenities to residents and commuters in the vicinity; and (b) if so, how will the Ministry mitigate the inconvenience to those who may be affected.

The Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Ms Low Yen Ling) (for the Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Speaker, as the appointed agent to carry out reclamation and related works at Woodlands Checkpoint, JTC is mindful that such reclamation works may increase noise, dust and traffic.

JTC will ensure the necessary mitigating measures to minimise inconveniences arising from such reclamation work. For example, JTC will erect a three-metre-high noise barrier along the shoreline of Woodlands Waterfront Park and restrict the duration of noisy activities where needed. It will also monitor and manage the air quality throughout the construction period and deploy dust suppression measures, such as water spraying. In addition, JTC will also moderate and monitor the traffic-related construction works to reduce congestion during peak hours.

Mr Speaker: Ms Hany Soh.

Ms Hany Soh (Marsiling-Yew Tee): I thank Minister of State for her reply. I have a few supplementary questions. One is in relation to the bus service that we understand, at this moment, is used by commuters to the checkpoints. Following from this reclamation, how will this change when the area will be closed, especially for roads around the Woodlands Town Centre?

The other question pertains to how this reclamation will affect the environment. In particular, some residents have expressed their concerns about the environmental impact study, whether that has been carried out to address any restoration of the natural habitat and species diversity in the area.

Finally, what I also understand is that, as part of these reclamations, there will also be some land that needs to be acquired from Malaysia to expand the checkpoint. How does that impact the development and will there be any delays in Malaysia's decision that may affect the implementation timelines?

Ms Low Yen Ling: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I want to thank Ms Hany Soh for her three questions. First, let me take the last question about the land. The Woodlands Checkpoint is being redeveloped to provide a more sustainable and a more long-term solution to the chronic congestion at this land crossing, which can be described as the world's busiest and is of importance to both countries.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), is the overall project lead of the redevelopment of the Woodlands Checkpoint. They have conducted very extensive feasibility and technical studies, and assessed that the land needs for the redevelopment of Woodlands Checkpoint can only be met through a mix of land acquisition and land reclamation.

I want to assure her that the expanded Woodlands Checkpoint works will not disrupt the operations including of the bus service and so on. There might be some re-routing to keep passengers, commuters and motorists safe, but it will not disrupt the checkpoint operations. The expanded Woodlands Checkpoint will be operationalised progressively from 2028 and redevelopment works will not, like I have mentioned, disrupt the operations.

In terms of the first question, she asked about the bus, transport and so on. ICA and JTC do not anticipate any significant traffic diversion or detours due to the reclamation works.

Before I talk about the environmental impact assessment (EIA), I know she is serving the residents in that area, together with her Group Representation Constituency (GRC) mates, so, allow me to reassure her that JTC, as the agent appointed to conduct the reclamation works, will work very closely with ICA, as well as with the eventual contractor that has been appointed to do this, to implement necessary mitigating measures, such as the noise barriers I talked about, hoarding and also dust control.

I want to assure her that some of the mitigation measures for noise, for example, we have looked into all the details. For example, I mentioned the three-metre-high noise barrier. It will be erected along the shoreline of Woodlands Waterfront Park. I think she is very familiar with it. In fact, the whole length will be 600 metres long. I think she will be very assured by that. The length of the shoreline is about 300 metres and the length perpendicular to the shoreline is about 300 metres, so a total of 600 metres.

In terms of dust, I want to also assure her and her residents that JTC and the appointed contractor will certainly monitor the air quality and manage it. We will implement a range of dust control measures, I cited a few; for example, erecting hoarding to contain the dust, spraying water on the reclaimed land, cleaning the tyres of the vehicles at the site exits, keeping speed limits and so on. And in addition to all that, we will also make sure that the dust-intensive activities will be planned in stages or phases, to minimise accumulative dust emissions. I think it is important that I share these details with her and her residents.

On the environmental impact analysis, in fact, JTC has conducted a very detailed and in-depth EIA for the reclamation project, and it examines the air and water quality, the noise and the visual impact, the preservation of biodiversity, the habitat disturbances and so on.

And she may have noticed that JTC has put out the full EIA report. It was gazetted on 29 January this year and the hard copy was made available for public viewing at JTC Summit for four weeks, from 29 January to 26 February. Even though the public consultation has ended, if any parties are interested, including the residents, they can still write to JTC to review it.

The assessment revealed that the impact on the biodiversity would be considered insignificant with the mitigation measures carried out during the redevelopment of the Woodlands Checkpoint. The report does not expect major environmental concerns from the construction works. I want to assure her that all hands are on deck, not just within the Ministry of Trade and Industry and JTC, but together with ICA, in fact, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) as well and the appointed contractors to put in all the necessary measures to minimise disamenities to the residents, the commuters and also to the environment.

Mr Speaker: Ms Soh.

Ms Hany Soh: Thank you, Minister of State. Just one quick clarification, which I also seek your reassurance on. I understand that the viaduct that will be constructed will run through the Marsiling Park area. So, will the relevant agencies be taking this opportunity to have a huddle and have a better understanding on how certain facilities will be improved, and also to minimise the disamenities that the park users will face around the area?

Ms Low Yen Ling: Mr Speaker, I want to thank the Member Ms Hany Soh for her follow-up supplementary questions. And her question on the viaduct is part of the broader Woodlands Checkpoint expansion that MHA and ICA are undertaking. So, this part does not come under the JTC reclamation works, but in the spirit of whole-of-Government, we welcome her to file a separate Parliamentary Question, and our counterparts at MHA will certainly provide her the details.

I know that MHA, ICA and HDB colleagues have as early as 2022 conducted door-to-door visits, conducted dialogues. And these dialogues will continue, and in fact, will intensify. As far as JTC is concerned, we are currently evaluating the tender to appoint the contractor, and once that has been finalised, we will conduct regular meetings between JTC and the contractor. The contractor will also appoint designated contact persons, more than one, in fact; and all these will be placed on notices at each HDB block and also at the hoarding, to make it easier for her, her community leaders, for the residents to give feedback. We certainly will put together the multi-agency team to bridge the communications with her and her team.