RAC Central

The southern part of P Punggol Timor is currently used as a sand reserve storage (sand being one of the critical resource for Singapore). Barges can be seen regularly hauling sands to the docks at the north of this island for this precious commodity to be offloaded. There is also a foreign worker dormitory situated at the eastern part of P Punggol Timor. It is well known for its rainbow coloured buildings (as well as being one of the COVID-19 cluster during the 2020 pandemic).

Food for Thoughts: (a) Importance of imported resources (sand, water, workers) for Singapore's development. (b) Environmental impact of sand mining.

Links: Watch clip on sand mining's impact on environment here. Learn more here.

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Background: At 4.2 km long, the Punggol water way is the longest man-made canal in Singapore and it links Serangoon Reservoir in the east with Punggol Reservoir in the west. There are 5 bridges across the waterway linking the northern and southern park of Punggol Estate including Sunrise Bridge at the eastern end and Jewel Bridge at the western end. 

PCNs are built on both banks of the waterway to allow jogging and cycling. Beside providing park and green space for leisure, the waterway also spruce up the aesthetics and livability of flats around the estate.

Punggol waterway is also one of 3 locations patrolled by volunteers from Waterway Watch Society of Singapore. (the other being Kallang Basin and Jurong Lake)

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[Compiled by: ______ (date), Updated by: ______ (date)]

Background: Sengkang "Prosperous Habour" Estate was built in an area originally known as Kangkar "End of Habour" as it as at the upstream of Serangoon and Ponggol  Rivers that leads to Serangoon Harbour.  It used to house a fishing village and various plantations. The 4 main precincts in Sengkang - Anchorvale, Compassvale, Fernvale and Rivervale still alludes to its seafaring and agriculture past. 

The Sengkang floating wetland was created on Punggol Reservoir to helps improve the water quality and animal habitats. The broadwalks across the river (including the one with the Mangosteen) helps improve accessibility and public enjoyment of the park.

Links:

(1) Infopedia entry on Sengkang Estate

(2) Article on Sengkang Floating Wetland

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Seletar Bus Depot, formerly named Sungei Seletar Bus Depot, is the third bus depot to be built by the Land Transport Authority in Singapore. It is located off Yio Chu Kang Road and houses 27 services under the Seletar Bus Package, supporting  Yishun, Yio Chu Kang and Ang Mo Kio interchange.

Completed in 2017, the new bus depot is able to accommodate about 500 buses and be equipped with facilities for daily bus operations, bus maintenance and a rest area for bus drivers.

Bus infrastructures used to be owned by companies (such as SMRT and SBST). But in 2014, the Bus Contracting Model (BCM) was implemented and all transports infra are now owned by LTA which plan bus routes holistically, set service standards and leased out bus packages to more operators.

Links:

(1) Article on Seletar Bus Depot

(2) Video on Bus Contracting Model

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Background: The reservoir was created in 1983 by a damming across the mouth of Seletar River. Originally named 'Sungei Seletar Reservoir', it was renamed as Lower Seletar Reservoir in 1992 to differentiate it from Upper Seletar Reservoir. This reservoir is the 13th Resevoir to be developed in Singapore. (1st Reservoir - MacRitchie Reservoir 1894, 16th/17th - Punggol Reservoir and Serangoon Reservoir 2011).  Besides providing water to Singaporeans, the reservoir is also a place for recreation and community-building, kayaking and dragon-boating are popular water activities here. 

Food for Thoughts: (a) 4 National Taps of Singapore. (b) Making use of spaces around reservoir.

Links: Learn more via PUB's Pamphlet.

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Background: (Can view the northern part of reservoir along Mandai Road or access the reservoir proper via old Mandai Road) Upper Seletar Reservoir, which was constructed in 1920 as Singapore’s third impounding reservoir. Only MacRitchie Reservoir (its first stage was completed in 1867) and Lower Pierce Reservoir (1910) are older. It was constructed to deal with the population and commercial boom after the end of WWI in 1918.

This reservoir was expanded several times as Singapore's population increases. It was officially opened in 1969 by Princess Alexandra (sister of Queen Elizabeth) in 1969. There are several prominent landmarks at this area including the "Rocket" tower, the wedding tree and one of the last merry-go-round in Singapore.

Food for Thought: While Singapore joined Malaysia in 1963 and became independent in 1965, it maintained its relationship with Great Britain as part of Commonwealth of Nation. Why are such organisations important?

More Info: Article on Upper Seletar Reservoir

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Background: Mandai is currently home to the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari. It will be joined by the Mandai Bird Park in the later part of 2020.

Mandai is currently home to the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari. It will be joined by the Mandai Bird Park in the later part of 2020.

These 4 attractions will form part of the bigger Mandai Parks development which will include visitor center and rainforest parks and eco-lodges. As these development borders the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, stringent Environmental Impact Assessment and control measures are put in place.

Food for Though:

(a) What are the possible mitigation for building developments near to nature reserves?

(b) What are the pros and cons of shifting our iconic bird park from Jurong to Mandai?

Links: 

Learn more at: (1) EIA for Mandai Parks development. (2) Article on Mandai Parks development.

Refer to ZELP for Mandai place-based activity

Refer to OPS guide for Mandai Zoo Campsite (log in to Workplace required)

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Background: Windsor Nature Park serves as a buffer between the central catchment area at Macritchie and the urbanised areas along Thomson; more park goers can enjoy nature in these buffer park instead of stressing our central catchment area. There are broad walks within the park so that the secondary forest within can be easily accessed and maintained. There are also multiple freshwater streams here. 

Beside multitudes of fauna and flora that can be found here, there is also ruins of an old village / fruit plantation within Windsor NP. 

Food for Thought: Buffer parks are smaller nature parks near to nature reserves to reduce the impact due to human visits. What are the other differences between buffer nature parks and nature reserves?

Link: Learn more on NParks webpage.

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Background: Bishan - Ang Mo Kio Park was conceived as a linear buffer park between Bishan new town and Ang Mo Kio town. It was one of the more important park in Singapore as the upstream of Kallang River flows through it from Pierce Reservoir to Kallang Basin.

• Kallang Canal - In 2006, the original concrete and straight Kallang canal was beautified and environmentally engineered into a meandering river-like canal incorporating soil bio-engineering and cleansing biotopes. Educational, fitness and play features were also added as part of this ABC water program.

• With the above effort, the bio-diversity of the park had increased with many migratory birds starting to drop by. 

• Lotus pond at Bishan AMK Park - Lotus leaves are hydrophobic so water will slide of them instead of sticking to them and weighting them down causing damage. Lotus grows and bloom in murky water, symbolic of Buddha achieving enlightening only after going through hardship and suffering.

• Unique HDB Flat - The open clover shaped HDB flat beside Bishan-AMK Park can be seen at the the south end.

Link: Learn more about Bishan - Ang Mo Kio Park here.

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Background: Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West was built as the second park (after Ang Mo Kio Town Garden East) in Ang Mo Kio estate in 1983 to spruce up the living space in the estate. It was built by HDB but is currently managed by NParks. This park feature secondary forest and was a favourite spot for joggers. It is 128 steps from the base of the hillock go the top of the garden. 

Ang Mo Kio's name is said to be derived from these 2 possible sources: 

• Caucasian (Ang Mo) Bridge (Bridge) from one of 2 bridges built by John Turnbull Thomsom in the vicinity. Thomson Road is named after him.

• Rambutan (Ang Mo Dan) Market (Khek) as there was a rambutan plantation in this area (remnants can still be found at the Thomson Nature Park) and the fruits are sold in old village market here.    

Food for Thought: How about a moment of solitude and reflection here at the top of the hillock.

Link: More Info on Ang Mo Kio Town can be found on roots.sg website.

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Background: YCK Stadium, completed in 1983 is a Rugby specific stadium with a capacity of just 2000. 

Link: OPS guide to YCK Stadium. (Log in to Workplace required) 

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Background: This land at Kampung Lorong Buangkok was bought by a TCM seller Sng Teow Koon in  1956. The land was parcelled out and leased to Chinese and Malay families. 

There used to be more than 30 families leaving in this kampong but now there are only about 20 left. Small plots of cultivated land buffers this last kampong on mainland Singapore from the high rise development in Sengkang and Hougang.

Food for Thought: (a) What does it mean to have "Kampong Spirit"? (b) The other kampong left in Singapore is on Pulau Ubin. How are these 2 kampongs different?

Links:  Infopedia on Kampong Lorong Buangkok, Infopedia on Pulau Ubin

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Background: OBS Reception and Activity Centre serves as the staging point for OBS on P Ubin as well as an interim campsite. It has a Pre-school as its only neighbour. It is frequented by monitor lizards, wild boars and the occasional blue-throated bee-eaters which are a favourite of bird watchers and photographers.

Links: See OPS guide for RAC. (log in to Workplace required)

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