Extending Sport-in-Precinct Scheme to HDB Estates Managed by Opposition Town Councils
Ministry of Culture, Community and YouthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the extension of the Sport-in-Precinct (SIP) scheme to HDB estates managed by opposition Town Councils and the typical budget allocated for each project. MP Pritam Singh raised these queries, leading Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong Chun Fai to explain that SIP facility siting is determined at a national level. Planning considerations include existing infrastructure, site availability, population size, and sports popularity to ensure convenient access to affordable facilities across Singapore. The Minister noted that ten SIP projects are completed with more planned, augmenting other community and Dual Use Scheme facilities already in operation. He added that project costs vary based on market conditions at the time of tender and the specific scale and nature of the facilities.
Transcript
36 Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) whether SportSG will extend the Sport-in-Precinct scheme to HDB estates managed by opposition Town Councils; and (b) what is the typical budget allocated for each project.
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: In allocating resources for sporting facilities, the Government aims to provide Singaporeans with convenient access to affordable public sports facilities so that they can enjoy sports as part of a healthy and active lifestyle, and for recreation. These include a variety of facilities from SportSG's 21 comprehensive sport centres with gyms and swimming pools spread across Singapore to the People's Association’s over 100 community centres or clubs across Singapore and numerous free-to-play sport spaces located conveniently in our housing estates. The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Sport Singapore will also continue to work with the Ministry of Education to provide more access to sporting and recreational facilities on top of the current 393 operational facilities under the Dual Use Scheme, and collaborate with other agencies to meet the evolving needs of the community.
The Sport-in-Precinct (SIP) facilities is one of several types of sporting facilities for the public. Across Singapore, we currently have 10 completed SIP facilities, including in Boon Lay, Sembawang and Sengkang. There are plans for the development of more SIP projects. We will announce the plans for these SIPs when the plans are firmed up.
Planning and including the siting for public sport facilities, including SIP facilities, is done at the national level, considering a range of different factors. These include, the nature of facilities already available, a site's proximity to other existing and upcoming locations of sports and recreational facilities, availability of suitable sites, town population size and popularity of sports.
The cost of an SIP facility depends on several factors, such as market conditions at the time of tender and the size and type of facilities being built.