URA Plan Draws Strong Interest

Source : The Straits Times, Dec 6, 2008

THE Master Plan 2008 - an ambitious blueprint setting out Singapore's physical development for the next 10 to 15 years - has attracted plenty of attention from the public.

Its exhibition received more than 200,000 visitors over the past six months, and about 300 submissions have been made - 80 per cent of them online - according to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) yesterday.

The feedback ranged across several aspects of the plan, which was unveiled in May by National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan.

It contains ambitious schemes to transform Jurong East, Kallang and Paya Lebar into sub-metropolitan hubs of offices, hotels, education and entertainment centres, parks and homes.

Some of the feedback included calls for the allocation of space for activities in Paya Lebar Central. The Station Plaza in front of the Paya Lebar MRT station and the plaza space next to the civic centre at Geylang Serai were cited as possible venues.

Feedback on the Leisure Plan was generally positive, including comments from members of the public that they were excited about the 150km round-island route, added the URA. Suggestions were also made on ways to enhance Jurong Lake District to improve transport with people movers and river taxis.

The URA said it would study the suggestions and is 'working with other agencies to see how we can incorporate (the public feedback) in our plan'.

The Master Plan was gazetted - or made official - yesterday. It can be viewed at the URA Centre in Maxwell Road.