Cause of Landslide at Clementi NorthArc BTO Flat Construction Site
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Saktiandi Supaat’s inquiry into the investigation of the 2022 Clementi NorthArc BTO landslide and the status of slope inspections at adjacent park connectors. Minister for National Development Desmond Lee stated the landslide was caused by slope failure, though the Building and Construction Authority found surrounding structures safe. He noted that investigations regarding potential violations of the Building Control Act are ongoing to determine if enforcement action against contractors is necessary. Agencies responsible for public land continue to perform regular inspections of slopes near large drains and canals to manage risks to public safety. These inspections are intensified during periods of heavy rainfall to identify needed mitigation measures and ensure slope stability.
Transcript
40 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the status of the investigation into the cause of the 2 September 2022 landslide at the construction site of Clementi NorthArc Build-To-Order flats; (b) whether any legal proceedings have been instituted against any of the contractors or subcontractors for the construction; (c) whether slope inspections have been stepped up at park connectors adjacent to large drains, canals or rivers; and (d) if so, by how much.
Mr Desmond Lee: On 2 September 2022, a landslide occurred at the Clementi NorthArc Build-To-Order construction site. This was caused by slope failure, which refers to the sudden collapse of a slope due to changes in soil strength or the destabilisation of the slope. After the incident, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) had inspected the surrounding buildings and found them to be structurally sound.
BCA is, currently, investigating the cause of the incident and whether there have been any contraventions of the Building Control Act and Regulations. BCA will consider the appropriate enforcement action after the investigations have been completed.
Agencies that manage public land carry out regular inspections on slopes that may pose a risk to public safety and implement appropriate mitigation measures to stabilise the slopes as needed. This includes slopes that are near park connectors adjacent to large drains, canals or rivers. Our agencies may also step up inspection frequency during periods of intense wet weather.