Update on New Tourism Development in Jurong Lake District

8 Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for Trade and Industry whether an update can be provided on the new tourism development in the Jurong Lake District.

The Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Ms Low Yen Ling) (for the Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Deputy Speaker, a request for proposal for a new tourism development at a site in Jurong Lake District was launched in March 2022 and closed in October 2022. There were no submissions.

The war in Ukraine, coupled with the overall slowdown in global economy, created an uncertain economic environment during that period, especially for the tourism sector. However, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) remains confident in the tourism potential of the site as it is adjacent to the new Science Centre and Jurong Lake Gardens. We are monitoring market sentiments and exploring other possibilities to harness this potential.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Ang.

Mr Ang Wei Neng (West Coast): Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister of State for the reply. Many West Coast and Jurong residents are looking forward to the new tourist attraction in Jurong East, not just for entertainment, but also for job opportunities. I would ask two supplementary questions.

Firstly, what are the implications of the cancellation of the high-speed rail project and of the recent release of White Side in Jurong Lake District for sale to a Master Developer, on the potential tourist development in the Jurong Lake District? Secondly, would the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) consider calling for another request for proposals (RFP) soon for the development of a tourist attraction in Jurong Lake District and if so, how would MTI enhance the attractiveness of the site that you are calling for this proposal, for example, is the site big enough for a Disneyland?

Ms Low Yen Ling: Sir, I want to thank the Member, Mr Ang Wei Neng, for his interest in the tourism development project. And I thank him for the two supplementary questions. But allow me to take a step back and recap what happened in 2008 because the Member will remember – and many Members would probably remember – the Jurong Lake District has, over the last 15 years, seen very significant progress since the release of the blueprint in 2008. For example, an established commercial core has built up around the Jurong East MRT interchange with developments, such as Jem, Westgate and Vision Exchange, complementing existing offices and amenities in the area.

The Member asked about the high-speed rail. For us, we are very focused on pushing ahead with not just MTI but the whole-of-Government plans for the Jurong Lake District, for example, upcoming improvements in rail connectivity via the Jurong Region Line and the Cross Island Line (CRL). All these developments and transport connectivity will certainly enhance the accessibility and attractiveness of the Jurong Lake District as a major employment centre.

Two weeks ago, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) launched a tender for the master development site at the Jurong Lake District and, indeed, the launch of the master development sale site will kickstart the next phase of development for the Jurong Lake District. And I want to assure the Member and the residents staying in the area that over the next 10 to 15 years, the plan is to develop the Jurong Lake District into the largest mixed use business district outside of the city centre, in line with the blueprint. And this is in line with Singapore's strategic objective for decentralisation, so that the residents staying in that part of Singapore will have access to very attractive job opportunities within close proximity.

It will also serve as a model for sustainability that promotes a healthy living environment for residents, visitors, workers, and a thriving Jurong Lake District will boost a critical mass of high-quality office spaces, well-integrated with housing, transport – I highlighted the connectivity coming up – amenities, green spaces, the Jurong Lake Garden and other complementary use. I want to assure the Member that my STB and MTI colleagues are closely monitoring and working with various stakeholders about the potential of the tourism development project that we talked about.

I also want to assure Mr Ang that the tourism development and the master development sale site aims to meet different but very complementary planning objectives for Jurong Lake District. For example, while the master development sale site will be developed mainly for office and residential uses with complementary amenities, such as retail shops, to serve the needs of the residents as well as the workers, the tourism site eventually, when launched and completed, will be developed primarily for attraction and leisure use – like the Member talked about earlier in his supplementary question – with ancillary hotel and retail uses that will serve both the residents and the visitors.

I want to assure him that our STB colleagues are looking at the RFP and the tourism site sits next to the 90-hectare Jurong Lake Garden, which is our third national garden and the location capitalised on the beautiful views and the direct 300-metre long water frontage for Jurong Lake. And there will also be, like I said in my answer to the Parliamentary Question (PQ) answer, tremendous opportunities for collaboration with the nearby new Science Centre.

So, with plans for more than 10 kilometres of active lakeside seamlessly linked by a promenade and also boardwalk around Jurong Lake, I want to assure the Member that a string of attractions will be created around the lake, all set amidst a very lovely, immersive greenery experience for the visitors, workers as well as his residents.