Saturday 23 May 2015

[Straits Times] Upgrading works done in consultation with residents

THE Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and PUB, the national water agency, thank Madam Doreen Tan for her letter "Preserve oasis of tranquility" (Forum Online, last Wednesday).
A community-driven project, the Private Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) serves to improve the physical condition and living environment in older private estates in Singapore.
Selected estates will form their own EUP Working Committee (EUPWC) comprising volunteers from the citizens' consultative committee and the estate's neighbourhood committee. The EUPWC conducts engagement sessions with residents to understand their needs and requests, before working with the government agencies to finalise the proposed upgrading works.
The Lucky Heights estate went through such a consultation process with the residents and the works they have chosen to implement include new playground equipment, replacement of street lamps, as well as a covered drain.
The covered drain is meant to double up as a pedestrian link for residents travelling between Bedok South Road and Upper East Coast Road. It will not be converted into a linear park. The covering of the drain is undertaken together with works to widen and deepen the drain to better cope with more intense storms.
The EUPWC, PUB, BCA and other agencies had met Madam Tan over her feedback and responded to her concerns before proceeding with the proposed covered drain.
Before the upgrading works, a pre-condition survey will be undertaken to assess and document the existing condition of the properties along the drain, which takes into consideration the structures and foundation of each property.
We assure Madam Tan that care will be taken during the works to minimise disruption to the residents.
Chua Lian Chye
Director, Project Management Department
Building and Construction Authority
Ridzuan Ismail
Director, Catchment and Waterways
PUB