More Toilets along Park Connectors
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns a query by Mr Lim Biow Chuan regarding whether NParks will install more toilets along park connectors to serve users. Senior Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee stated that NParks plans to build more toilets over the next five years at selected locations and will ensure their continued maintenance. Planning guidelines aim for toilets within a 2.5-kilometre radius along the Park Connector Network, with signage directing users to nearby facilities in parks, food centres, or malls. For regional parks, toilets are planned at 500-metre to one-kilometre intervals depending on terrain, available space, and proximity to sewer lines. Senior Minister of State Desmond Lee noted that the feasibility of installing toilets in public parks also depends on space and cost-effective sewer connections.
Transcript
17 Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for National Development whether NParks will consider installing more toilets along the park connectors.
The Senior Minister of State for National Development (Mr Desmond Lee) (for the Minister for National Development): Madam, over the next five years, NParks plans to build more new toilets across the Park Connector Network (PCN).
As the network is extensive, these toilets will be built at selected locations that are conveniently located where they can best serve park users and the local community.
Mr Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten): May I ask the Senior Minister of State whether there are also plans for maintenance of the toilets to make sure that they are kept clean because building toilets are just part of the equation?
Mr Desmond Lee: Yes.
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong (Non-Constituency Member): Can I ask the Senior Minister of State is it possible to share what are the criteria for deciding whether to install a toilet in the parks, small or bigger parks, along the Park Connectors?
Mr Desmond Lee: Madam, the planning guideline is to provide toilets at about 2.5-kilometre radius from any point along the PCN. There will be signs to direct users to the nearest available toilets located at places such as nearby parks, food centres and shopping malls. At areas where such facilities are not available, NParks will study the feasibility of building toilets.
For regional parks that are meant to serve park users beyond the immediate vicinity, the planning parameter is to provide toilets at every 500-metre to one-kilometre intervals depending on other factors, such as terrain, availability of space, proximity to sewer lines and so on. For public parks where spaces are available and where there can be cost-effective connections to existing sewer lines, NParks will study the feasibility of providing toilets.