Table of Contents Ministry of National Development (MND)
MND’s mission is:
- To develop world-class infrastructure;
- To create a vibrant and sustainable living environment; and
- To build rooted and cohesive communities for Singapore.
A total budget of $2.49 billion has been allocated to MND in FY2010 to achieve this mission.
MND aims to achieve the following outcomes:
- Affordable and Quality Public Housing
- Rejuvenating and Remaking Our Heartland
- Best Built Environment for Our People
- Making Singapore a more Liveable, Sustainable & Vibrant City
- Singapore as a City in a Garden
- Ensure a Resilient Supply of Safe Food
- Safeguard Animal and Plant Health, as well as Public Health from Zoonotic Diseases
Affordable and Quality Public Housing
Public housing has played a critical role in promoting rootedness and social cohesion among Singaporeans. It has given our people a tangible stake in the country and has facilitated upward social mobility. It has also given Singaporean households an asset that they can monetise to meet retirement needs. MND will continue to provide affordable and quality public housing that meets the needs and aspirations of Singaporeans, and promote home ownership for the vast majority who can afford it. $534 million will be allocated to Housing Development Board as an operating grant for this purpose.
Rejuvenating and Remaking Our Heartland
$997 million will be spent to rejuvenate older housing estates through various estate renewal programmes so that residents can enjoy improved living conditions.
To achieve this outcome, HDB will be undertaking the following major initiatives and programmes: -
Remaking Our Heartland (ROH)
Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) is an effort to transform our HDB estates comprehensively into more vibrant homes for Singaporeans. In Punggol, the first young estate under ROH, new housing concepts such as waterfront housing, recreational facilities along the Punggol Waterway and a coastal promenade will be introduced. For middle-aged estates such as Yishun, improved upgrading programmes such as the Home Improvement Programme and Neighbourhood Renewal Programme will be complemented with efforts to rejuvenate the town centres and bring added vibrancy to the estate. As for the mature estates such as Dawson Estate, the new public housing developments will include concepts such as housing-in-a-park, sky gardens and multi-generation living.
Home Improvement Programme (HIP)/Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP)
The HIP offers useful improvements within the flat to residents. The HIP comprises two components – Essential improvements and Optional improvements.
- Essential improvements include works that are necessary for public health, safety or technical reasons such as the replacement of deteriorating waste pipes, upgrading of the electrical load, ceiling leaks and spalling concrete.
- Optional improvements include toilet upgrades and new entrance door/grilles. Residents therefore have choice on the works included in the upgrading.
For Singapore Citizen households, the Government will subsidise a major portion (87.5% to 95%) of the cost of the Optional improvements depending on the resident’s flat type, and 100% of the cost of Essential improvements.
The NRP focuses on precinct and block-level improvements for two or more contiguous precincts. The upgrading of a larger area enables better integration of upgraded facilities and ensures that improvements across neighbouring precincts complement one another. Residents are invited to provide feedback on the facilities to create a stronger sense of ownership and belonging, and ensure that the items provided better meet their needs. The NRP is fully funded by the Government.
In FY2010, 2,200 and 2,500 flats are expected to be completed under HIP and NRP respectively.
Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) /IUP Plus /Main Upgrading Programme (MUP)
In FY2010, an estimated 44,200, 20,500 and 1,700 flats are expected to be completed under the LUP, IUP Plus and MUP respectively. To support barrier free access of an ageing population, the target is to provide lifts that stop on every floor for all eligible blocks by 2014.
Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS)
In FY2010, residents of about 3,800 flats will receive compensation for their properties acquired under the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS). SERS allows for more optimal land-use in older estates, while presenting a unique opportunity for residents living in older HDB estates to upgrade to new flats on fresh 99-year leases, without losing the family and community ties built over the years.
Housing Estate Management Programme
$111.7 million of grants will be provided to help Town Councils with their service and conservancy costs.
$73.6 million will be spent to improve public facilities in public and private housing estates. The improvement to public housing estates will allow residents in HDB precincts to enjoy the convenience of facilities such as walkways and children’s playgrounds. Upgrading works for selected private housing estates will include park-related and road-related upgrading works, improvements to connectivity and accessibility to/within the estates, and enhancements to estate identity.
Best Built Environment for Our People
BCA aims to shape a safe, high-quality, sustainable and friendly built environment. This will be achieved by:
- Ensuring high standards of building safety;
- Promoting construction quality excellence;
- Promoting environmental sustainability in buildings and their immediate surroundings;
- Ensuring barrier free accessibility in the built environment and promoting universal design principles; and
- Transforming the construction industry, building up sustained contracting capabilities and enhancing productivity.
A total of $69 million will be allocated in FY2010 to achieve this outcome.
BCA will be undertaking the following major initiatives and programmes to achieve this outcome:
Ensuring High Standards of Building Safety
To enhance safety standards in construction, BCA administers the Building Control Act and Regulations and periodically reviews them to ensure that safety requirements remain relevant and effective. In order to keep the regulatory framework current and relevant, BCA has embarked upon a 3-year systematic "rules review" of the Building Control Act and Regulations. In addition, BCA is spearheading an accreditation scheme for the certification of suppliers of ready-mixed concrete for use in structural applications. This will be implemented by the Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC) in early 2010 and by mid-2010, BCA intends to make it a requirement for structural concrete to be supplied only by accredited ready-mix concrete suppliers.
Promoting Quality Excellence
To achieve construction quality excellence in buildings, BCA is promoting the wider adoption of its quality assessment systems i.e. CONQUAS and Quality Mark, in both public and private sector projects. The aim is to continually improve quality standards by attaining a higher industry average CONQUAS score. To achieve this objective, BCA encourages more developers to benchmark their projects using CONQUAS and participate in the Quality Mark Scheme for residential developments. BCA will build up industry capability through courses conducted at the BCA Academy and developing on–site customized training for site management and supervisory personnel. Developers, consultants and contractors who have delivered high quality projects will be accorded recognition through BCA's construction excellence and quality awards, and personnel certification schemes for quality excellence.
Promoting Sustainability of the Built Environment
BCA is promoting the wider adoption of green building designs and practices through its green building rating system, the BCA Green Mark scheme. This scheme promotes energy efficiency, water savings, sustainable construction, better indoor environment quality and environmental protection for a more sustainable built environment. Under its 1st Green Building Masterplan, $2 million was set aside for FY2010 under the Green Mark Incentive scheme to encourage developers to build energy efficient and environmentally friendly buildings. The industry can also continue to tap on the $11.5 million set aside for FY2010 under the MND Research Fund to support research and development in green building technologies and energy efficiency. To drive the industry towards sustainable construction, $3 million has been set aside in FY2010 under a $15 million Sustainable Construction Capability Development Fund to facilitate greater adoption of recycled materials and encourage optimal use of building materials through efficient design.
To further intensify its efforts to deliver a sustainable built environment, BCA formulated its 2nd Green Building (GB) Masterplan with special emphasis on achieving greater energy efficiency in the existing building stock in Singapore. Recognising financial considerations as one of the key barriers for building owners to upgrade their building energy performance, the $100 million Green Mark Incentive Scheme for Existing Buildings was launched under its 2nd GB Masterplan to jumpstart the 'greening' of existing buildings in the private sector. Starting with $20 million in FY2010, this fund would encourage private building owners to retrofit their buildings with up-to-date products, technologies and systems for better building performance and energy efficiency. To augment these initiatives, BCA through BCA Academy also introduced a full spectrum of Green Building courses from design to operation and maintenance to increase the pool of building professionals with competency to design and operate energy-efficient buildings.
Promoting Barrier-Free Accessibility (BFA)
To facilitate a friendly built environment that caters to the elderly, families and those with disabilities, BCA is implementing the BFA Masterplan to encourage buildings in both public and private sectors to be barrier-free, and to adopt Universal Design (UD) principles. An Accessibility Fund of $5 million has been allocated in FY2010 to co-fund voluntary BFA upgrading costs of existing private buildings, as well as to raise public awareness on accessibility, UD and relevant assistive technologies. A Friendly Buildings portal, which currently captures information on the level of accessibility in 1,200 buildings, has been set up.
Building Up Sustained Contracting Capabilities and Enhancing Productivity
There is a need to build a highly competent and productive construction industry to anchor and support Singapore’s continued growth. A 5 year $250 million fund has been allocated to support wider technology adoption, improvement of work processes and manpower training to enhance productivity. It will also support the building of new capabilities in progressive contractors to undertake complex projects and lead the industry.
Making Singapore a more Liveable, Sustainable and Vibrant City
URA as Singapore's national land use planning and conservation agency aims to create a more liveable, sustainable and vibrant city and to facilitate the realisation of its plans in partnership with the community. URA’s planning, land use policies and development efforts are geared towards making Singapore an attractive destination for businesses and investments, as well as a great place to live and play in for the people.
To realise this vision, a total budget of $339 million has been allocated to URA to undertake key initiatives and programmes in FY2010 including:
Concept Plan 2011 Review
URA is conducting a review of the Concept Plan, which is a strategic land use and transportation plan that will guide the physical development of Singapore over the next 40 to 50 years. The Concept Plan Review will take into consideration the need to maintain a good quality living environment and providing for the needs of our ageing population, as well as ensuring sustainable developments while remaining an endearing home. The Review will be completed in 2011. Public consultations in the form of lifestyle surveys, on-line surveys and focus group discussions will be carried out to engage a wide spectrum of the community and to find out more about the needs and aspirations of residents and foreigners living in Singapore.
Sustainable Development Initiatives
URA adopts a long-term and integrated approach to ensure that Singapore develops in a sustainable manner. We want to incorporate more innovative sustainable urban development strategies in our planning, and also deepen our planning expertise. URA is collaborating with various agencies and institutions to embark on a series of research projects to develop new urban planning and design recommendations. These studies are carried out with the support of the MND Research Fund.
Developing Key Growth Areas
As part of the execution plan for Master Plan 2008, URA will continue to develop the City Centre and other key growth areas like the Jurong Lake District and Kallang Riverside through the formulation and implementation of detailed urban design plans and key infrastructure. URA will also promote these areas and market Singapore as a distinctive global city at overseas trade and marketing events to generate interests and draw investments and talents to Singapore.
Developing Marina Bay
The development of Marina Bay area as a seamless expansion of the existing CBD continues to be one of Singapore's key focus areas. The Government is putting in place key infrastructure and facilities including the Downtown Line rail network and the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE), to open up the area, and enhance the accessibility and attractiveness to the public, visitors and investors.
With the completion of the double helix bridge, waterfront promenade, Marina Bay City Gallery and major developments in 2010, a continuous waterfront pedestrian loop will be created around the bay. To mark this important milestone and introduce Marina Bay as the new focal point for our city, a series of events, themed “Marina Bay Invitations 2010” will be staged throughout the year.
The ongoing construction of the various phases of the Common Services Tunnels is scheduled to be completed by 2012. The sewer works in the Marina South and Central subzones are scheduled to be completed by 2010 while the construction of the 230KV electrical substation is scheduled to be completed by 2011. The implementation of these key infrastructure works will ensure the timely provision of utilities supply to the developments in the area and cater for future demand and growth.
Fostering a Sense of Identity and Rootedness
Besides Marina Bay, URA also oversees the place management of historic districts and key locations such as the Singapore River, to enhance the distinctiveness and vibrancy of these areas in collaboration with various stakeholders. For Singapore River, URA will carry out consultancy studies and visitor perception surveys to establish the interest for the future works.
URA will also continue to identify and conserve significant buildings as part of the planning process and to enhance the characters of selected places by implementing environmental improvement works, to contribute towards giving Singaporeans a sense of history and belonging.
Enhancing Buzz in Singapore's Nightlife
URA is working in partnership with other agencies to add buzz to the nightlife in four key areas, i.e. Orchard, Bras Basah.Bugis, Singapore River and Marina Bay. The agencies are implementing both hardware and software initiatives, as well as creating an enabling environment to encourage more participation from the private operators. URA intends to call for a Request-for-Proposal to invite interested parties to submit their proposals for the design, construction, maintenance and operation of the Floating Stage at Singapore River. In addition, we are also implementing enhanced lighting at Bras Basah.Bugis along the key routes.
Promoting Architecture and Urban Design Excellence
To raise awareness of good architecture and urban design, URA is introducing a variety of initiatives and outreach programmes for both the general public and industry professionals. These include exhibitions, talks, workshops and design competitions. URA also supports private organisations and individuals who wish to carry out outreach activities through the A•UDE Promotion Programme, which provides funding to encourage different and innovative approaches to promoting architecture and urban design excellence in Singapore.
In addition, the Singapore City Gallery located at the URA Centre, will undergo major upgrading works to introduce new exhibits to showcase the latest plans and initiatives captured under the Master Plan 2008. As part of our efforts to engage the students and general public as well as foreign visitors, URA will review the exhibition content and techniques to ensure that it remains interesting and relevant to the target audience and achieves the goals of public education and city marketing.
Singapore as a City in a Garden
The National Parks Board (NParks) aims to transform Singapore into a “City in a Garden” and create the best living environment through excellent greenery and recreation in partnership with the community.
A total budget of $590 million has been allocated to NParks in FY2010 to achieve this.
NParks will be undertaking the following major initiatives and programmes to achieve this outcome:
Gardens By The Bay
The Gardens by the Bay, which consists of 3 landmark waterfront gardens in Marina Bay, will contribute significantly in making the heart of Singapore’s new downtown district a fascinating destination to live, work and play in. When completed, the Gardens will be a green oasis in the heart of the city that all Singaporeans can enjoy with their families and loved ones. The Gardens is also expected to attract 2.7 million tourists annually.
Park Connectors
The Park Connector Network is an island-wide network of green corridors that link up major parks, nature sites and housing estates in Singapore. Besides bringing about green connectivity and ensuring a continuous green mantle, park connectors are popular venues for lifestyle and community activities.
Streetscape Greenery Master Plan (SGMP)
NParks is implementing the Streetscape Greenery Masterplan, a blueprint to accentuate, enhance and revitalize the Garden City, through intensification of streetscapes to create unique identities for clusters of roads at strategic locations.
Skyrise Greenery
Skyrise greenery helps to optimise landuse and yield environmental benefits such as reducing the urban heat island effect. NParks takes an active role in skyrise greenery implementation in Singapore, and leads the promotion of skyrise greenery at a national level.
Landscape Industry Development
There are on-going programmes to build capabilities and capacities of the landscape industry. These include building a strong core of skilled local workforce through training and certification, enhancing the professional image and career opportunities, and developing and implementing industry standards. NParks also aims to promote Singapore’s botanical and horticultural expertise internationally.
Promoting Community Ownership
NParks works closely with the public, private and people sectors to inculcate community passion for and ownership in transforming Singapore into a global City in a Garden. Programmes include Community in Bloom, Plant-A-Tree, Garden City Fund, outreach activities and partnerships with volunteers and industry partners.
In total, $155 million will be spent on the landscape industry development and promoting community ownership. These include organizing the Singapore Garden Festival 2010 and the Community in Bloom program. In addition, $77 million will be spent on strengthening Singapore’s greenery infrastructure, including the development of new parks and park connectors, redevelopment of parks, implementation of the Streetscape Greenery Masterplan and the promotion of skyrise greenery.
Ensure a Resilient Supply of Safe Food
$52.5 million will be spent to ensure the safety of all food from production to just before retail and to provide Singapore with a stable supply of safe food.
Ensuring a safe food supply: Food consignments are subjected to a systematic programme of inspection and laboratory monitoring to ensure they are safe for consumption
AVA will be undertaking the following major initiatives and programmes to achieve this outcome:
- Adopt a risk management approach based on international food safety standards to ensure a safe food supply
- Managing a food fund to enhance food supply resilience through upstream sourcing and upgrading farm capabilities and production
- Diversify food sources through establishing more potential overseas sources, transfer of technology to develop aquaculture and vegetable production in the region, and promoting product substitutes
- Optimise local production by encouraging farms to adopt good agricultural practices, improved technology and modern farming methods, safeguarding of land and sea space for farming
- Strengthen AVA’s integrated food safety programme including upgrading of surveillance and food testing capabilities
- Increase public awareness of food safety as a shared responsibility of the food industry and consumers, and of the availability of product substitutes.
Safeguard Animal and Plant Health, as well as Public Health from Zoonotic Diseases
$18.6 million will be set aside to keep Singapore free from serious animal and plant health diseases of public health and economic importance. This includes combating global threats of zoonotic diseases such as the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) or rabies.
AVA will be undertaking the following major initiatives and programmes to achieve this outcome:
AVA carries out intensive and well-coordinated animal and plant disease surveillance programmes to prevent entry of animal and plant diseases of public health or economic significance to Singapore in order to maintain the country's specific disease-free status
- Enhancing import control, border checks, upgrading disease surveillance and diagnostic capabilities, and maintaining emergency preparedness to deal with disease outbreaks.
- Implement a multi-layered defence strategy against bird flu. This includes maintaining vigilance and preparedness against disease introduction, upgrading diagnostic capabilities for prompt disease detection, as well as establishing strategic partnership with neighbouring countries to collaborate with them in controlling the disease.
- Develop a strategy for rabies. This includes continual assessment of quarantine requirements, maintaining vigilance and preparedness against introduction, upgrading diagnostic capabilities for prompt disease detection, as well as establishing strategic partnership with neighbouring countries to collaborate with them in controlling the disease.
To find out more about Ministry of National Development and our initiatives, please feel free to visit our website.
