Gardens BY The Bay Set To Bring In $1b Over Next 10 Years

Source : Channel NewsAsia, 09 November 2007

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan on Friday unveiled details of a S$900 million plan to turn Marina South into a lush Eden.

Cool Moist Conservatory

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Mr Mah said the Gardens at Marina South is set to be a major tourist attraction, bringing in 2.7 million more visitors each year.

Tourism receipts are also expected to reach some S$1 billion over the next ten years, due to flagship events like the Singapore Garden Festival.

Gardens at Marina South is the first phase of a masterplan to create three of such gardens on prime waterfront land in the heart of the Central Business District, to help place Singapore in the same league as other global cities like New York and London.

Related Video Link - http://tinyurl.com/ywjo37
Gardens by the Bay set to bring in S$1b over next 10 years

Dr Tan Wee Kiat, Advisor to NParks, Project Director of Gardens by the Bay, said: "The other senses will come into play – smell, sound... and we will feature this in garden design, which is not often done in gardens in this part of the world. By nightfall, most of us just leave, but here we want people to stay."

Lion Grove (daytime)

Apart from 'Cooled Conservatories' where flora from cooler climates will be displayed, visitors can also expect to see some 'SuperTrees' – tall skeletal structures on which climbing plants will grow.

The Gardens will also be a showcase of energy-efficient technologies as water from the Bay will be recycled to be used in the park.

The 54-ha development, which is expected to be completed by 2010, will also have space for retail shops and events.

Mr Mah said the world-class city garden will add value to the surrounding real estate, but added that it is not all about numbers.

Overview of Gardens by the Bay site

He said: "I'm sure somebody would come up and say, 'Look, if you had put apartments and offices on this land, you would have created more value!' But is this what we want? Is this what Singapore is all about?"

The two other parks – one at Marina East and the other at Marina Centre – will be built at a later date.

A water-sports area will be built at Marina East, while a park will be incorporated into the Formula One circuit at Marina Centre. - CNA/so