Environmental Impact Assessments for Construction Works Near National Parks or Nature Reserves
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang’s inquiry on making Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) mandatory for construction near sensitive areas and making reports publicly available. Second Minister Desmond Lee explained that projects near nature reserves or biodiversity areas currently undergo technical consultations, with in-depth studies required if potential impacts are assessed as significant. He affirmed the government’s intention to release EIA findings unless security considerations require confidentiality, noting that full reports have previously been gazetted to ensure transparency. Regarding the Tengah development, findings were shared via media, and the Ministry will continue engaging nature groups despite the area's status as a military training ground. These protocols ensure that developers thoroughly assess nature impacts and implement extensive mitigating measures for all development projects near sensitive biodiversity areas.
Transcript
34 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry will consider making Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) mandatory for all construction works near national parks or nature reserves and making such EIA reports publicly available.
The Second Minister for National Development (Mr Desmond Lee): Mr Speaker, today, development projects that are near sensitive areas, including Nature Reserves, Nature Areas, areas of significant biodiversity as well as marine and coastal areas, are required to undergo an in-depth consultation process with the relevant technical agencies to discuss the scope of works, the possible environmental impact and corresponding mitigating measures.
If the potential environmental impact of a project is assessed to be significant, we will require the project developer to conduct further environmental studies to thoroughly assess the nature and magnitude of the impact, and to implement more extensive mitigating measures to address them.
As I have previously said in this House, our intention is to make publicly available the findings from such environmental impact assessments, unless there are specific reasons such as security considerations that require us to maintain confidentiality.
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon): I thank Minister for the reply. I understand that he said that only the findings are released, bearing in mind that some of these reports might contain some sensitive data. Taking the Tengah case for example, where there are some disputes on the ground with regards to the findings of the study, whether releasing the full report minus the sensitive data, will help to clarify some of the concerns on the ground and also provide more assurances on the ground?
Mr Desmond Lee: I thank the Member for the supplementary question. EIA reports have been gazetted in full to make very clear to interested parties, including the environmental groups, what the findings are and what the impact is. For Tengah, the findings of the environmental baseline study were shared with the public through the media in October last year. We will also be engaging with nature groups to share with them the details of the environmental baseline study. As the Member would know, Tengah is and remains a military training ground.