Private Estates Can Tap Govt Funds For Minor Upgrades

Source : The Straits Times, 20 Aug 2007

PRIVATE housing estates are to receive government funds to pay for small-scale estate improvements. The funds, which are from the National Development Ministry’s Community Improvement Projects Committee (CIPC), were previously given only to HDB estates.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the move was meant to make private estates feel less ‘neglected’ in the Government’s upgrading efforts. Yes, they had earlier got a bite of the upgrading cherry under the Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP), which pays for major works such as new parks and covered drains.

‘But even then, private estates sometimes feel like they are stepchildren, neglected,’ said Mr Lee.

Opening up CIPC funds to these estates was an idea that Minister of State (Finance and Transport) Lim Hwee Hua and her committee had come up with, he said.

He had asked Mrs Lim to see what more could be done for private estates. Mrs Lim, he noted, had a close interest in the topic because the private homes in Serangoon Gardens are part of her ward.

The committee’s second recommendation, which the Government has also accepted, is for the EUP to be revamped. All the different works, such as lighting, streets and carparks, will now be done together in ‘one big bang’, said Mr Lee.