Study on Viability and Feasibility of Converting Vacant State Land to Nature Parks for Nearby Residents
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns MP Mr Christopher de Souza's inquiry regarding the feasibility of converting small, vacant plots of state land near residential estates into nature parks. Minister Desmond Lee stated that the government plans to add 1,000 hectares of green spaces by 2030, ensuring every household is within a 10-minute walk of a park. He noted that over 200 hectares are reserved for new nature parks that serve as ecological buffers while balancing other land-use needs like infrastructure and community facilities. The government employs a science-based approach to identify suitable plots, prioritizing ecological significance and connectivity within the island’s green network. To guide long-term conservation, NParks launched the Ecological Profiling Exercise in February 2021 to map biodiversity sites in consultation with nature experts and the community.
Transcript
24 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for National Development whether a study can be undertaken on the viability and feasibility of whether vacant small plots of state land, especially those adjacent to residential estates, can be converted to nature parks for residents living nearby.
Mr Desmond Lee: As part of our greening efforts, we have safeguarded approximately 7,800 hectares of nature reserves, parks, and park connectors in Singapore. In the next 10 to 15 years, we will add another 1,000 hectares of green spaces. Of these, more than 200 hectares will be set aside for new nature parks, which serve as important buffers to protect our core biodiversity sites. Some of these nature parks are located near residential estates, such as Bukit Batok Hillside Nature Park and Khatib Bongsu Nature Park. Besides extending our network of nature parks, we also plan to bring more green spaces into our neighbourhoods. By 2030, every household will be within a 10-minute walk from a park.
In planning for our green spaces and identifying suitable plots of land that can be converted into parks, we take into account other land-use needs such as community facilities, public amenities, and infrastructure, and seek to balance the demand for green spaces with these needs. We also consider factors such as ecological significance and connectivity, as part of our science-based approach towards nature conservation.
In line with this approach, NParks launched the island-wide Ecological Profiling Exercise (EPE) in February 2021, to map the ecological profile of green spaces in Singapore, in consultation with the nature community and experts. Findings from the exercise will guide our long-term land-use plans in identifying key biodiversity sites for conservation and support our greening efforts.