The Nature Society (Singapore)
Conservation Committee
Feedback on PUB’s ABC Waters Programme
(This report is endorsed by the Council of the Nature Society)
Introduction
The Nature Society has visited and made a careful study of the Exhibition of
the PUB’s Waters Programme in March 2007. We have also made visits to some
of these waterbodies to acquire field and ground information to provide for a fair
and objective evaluation of the exhibits. The contents of the exhibits are certainly
interesting and informative, revealing PUB’s vision for its new management
approach to our waterbodies. What we can see in this vision is its emphasis on
activities and beauty to fulfill PUB’s objective of making Singaporeans more
mindful and responsible for the quality of our water-supplies via bonding with the
waterbodies --- through opening them up for water-based sport and recreational
activities as well as aesthetic appreciation. This is certainly a tremendous step
forward in PUB’s management history and we are fully in support of such an
advance.
However, although it has been mentioned as part of PUB’s planning as
shown in some of the exhibits, we are concerned that the ecological or
biodiversity factor has not been sufficiently well-emphasized overall. We are
concerned here because in some areas of these waterbodies, there are present a
rich wildlife community that requires a more sensitive ecological focus to the
planning. The purpose of this feedback is to highlight where relevant these
biodiversity elements with recommendations for a more eco-sensitive approach
to the planning for these areas, so that Singapore, despite its small size, could be
seen to be one of the first to appreciate and demonstrate to the world the value
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of nature in all its permutations in the context of the global city --- catering not
just for our economic and recreational needs but also for the appreciation of and
harmonious living with nature.
In the light of this, we would like to offer the following feedbacks to three
of the plans and these are:
I) Kranji Reservoir
II) Sungei Serangoon & Lorong Halus Pond
III) Sungei Kallang
I) The Kranji Reservoir
(Please refer to the map in the exhibit for this waterbody)
It must be said that the Kranji Reservoir is the most beautiful reservoir that
we have located in the midst of an accessible and lovely countryside that is to a
large extent as yet unmarred by concretised development. The factors that
contributed to its beauty and attraction include the calm serenity of its open
waters and the many natural elements that are present along its shorelines ---such as woodlands, marshes, aquatic water-plants, and the extremely rich birdlife
haunting its waters and shore edges as well as in the air above its surface. This
makes Kranji a unique and highly valuable reservoir not only for the large watersupply but also for its biodiversity and aesthetic landscape value. The reservoir
should be managed to preserve and enhance these values rather than to
downgrade them.
A) The Connector Along the Western Shoreline.
This connector in the plan exhibited has the purpose of providing a walking
link between Sg Buloh Nature Reserve and the Kranji Marshes Park and the Agri2
tainment area along Neo Tiew Road running across Jelutong Cove (at Sungei
Jelutong) by a footbridge and using the PUB Bund to connect to Neo Tiew Lane 2.
Here we strongly urge that the connector should not be carried out all the way
across Jelutong Cove and the PUB Bund and should be stopped at the northern
edge of the Cove after coming in from the Dam Carpark. Where the trail ends, a
hide can be constructed for the purpose of viewing the birdlife feeding around
Jelutong Cove.
The reason for this proposal is that Jelutong Cove at low-water level and
the Bund, in particular the northern 1 km section of it, are the feeding ground of
many wading birds, such as egrets, bitterns and herons. The bridge cutting across
Jelutong Cove will be too close to the shoreline and shallows where many herons
and egrets feed.
Also, using the bund as part of the connector is highly problematic for the
birdlife because the Bund itself is where most of the wading birds gather between
their feeding sessions. Also, the wading birds in their quest for prey are using the
sloping edge of the Bund for stalking rather than in the water itself and this is
particularly the case when the water-level in the Reservoir is too high for there to
be shallows for wading. They feed along both sides of the Bund. The species that
that would be most vulnerable to disturbance created by the connector here
would be the Grey and the Purple Heron, both nationally endangered species. A
study done in 2000 records that 35 Grey Herons were feeding at Jelutong Cove in
one count at low-water level, while at PUB Bund you have 21 Grey and 13 Purple
Herons (Ref. H. C. Ho, The Kranji Reservoir Environs (Singapore): An Integrated
Conservation Plan, MSc Thesis, Imperial College.) During the winter season,
migratory species such as the Intermediate and the Little Egret would also be
adversely affected.
The Bund is also extremely narrow, being only about 5 metres wide. The
provision of a screen on both sides --- artificial or natural --- all along the Bund
would not be of much help as the waders would be deprived of a gathering and
resting area and would certainly be disturbed by the noises that come from the
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human passers-by. For these reasons we strongly urge that this connector
across Jelutong Cove and the PUB Bund should not be allowed at all.
The Alternatives: 1) A cross-country trail to Kranji Marshes Park and the
Agri-tainment area can still be effected by moving inland from Jelutong Cove
behind and along the Kranji Transmission Station with permission from the
Station authority and from there to move along the landward side of the Kranji
Sanctuary Golf Course and the Media Corp Transmission Station to Neo Lane 2.
2)) Another option or an additional option is a trail for both walking and
cycling from the Dam Carpark to Neo Tiew Lane 2 along the side of Neo Tiew
Road, where there is ample space by the roadside for such a project.
Thus there is no need to affect the connector along the eastern shore of
the Reservoir between Sg Buloh and Neo Tiew lane 2. People who want to view
and enjoy the wildlife at the marshes can do so by going to the hide north of
Jelutong Cove and also if they need more of such by coming in from Neo Tiew
Lane 2 to Kranji Marshes Park where they can also have a very good view of this
beautiful Reservoir at the southern end of the Bund, where another viewing hide
can also be put up for birdwatching.
In conclusion, for these reasons previously given, and with the above
suggested alternatives achieving the same purpose, we strongly urge that this
connector across Jelutong Cove and the PUB Bund should not be allowed at all.
B) Motorised Cruises.
Excepting maintenance work, we are against the introduction of motorized
cruises and transportation within all parts of the Reservoir --- even if the boats are
electric-powered. The Reservoir is simply too small for such a use. Not only will
the birds feeding along the shoreline be disturbed, too many cruises will cause by
wave action erosion of the shoreline. The tranquility of the Reservoir’s country
ambience will also be shattered at the expense of the many people who come
here to enjoy this. Aesthetically, the presence of motorized boats carrying loads
of tourists --- possibly with loud microphone commentary from the guides --- is an
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ugly sight from the shore. The tourists in the boat may enjoy their trips but they
will spoil it for the visitors on the shore. If the purpose is to transport visitors to
the Agri-tainment farms in the upper part of the Reservoir, then the existing roads
should be used. Buses should be made to run through Neo Tiew Road and other
farm areas on a daily basis --- similar to, or an extension of, the Kranji Countryside
Association’s present hourly bus service to and from Kranji MRT Station.
C) Canoeing
Canoeing can be allowed but this must not be of a competitive type.
Canoeing should be for the purpose of nature appreciation. Here a general buffer
of about 50 metres from the PUB Bund must be set off the western shoreline
where most of the marshland and wading birds are found feeding. Here it is
proposed that canoes should also be not allowed into Sungei Kangkar and the
various small inlets and coves such as Jelutong Cove, as this can be disturbing to
the birdlife feeding along their shores. As a general guideline, the canoe routes
should be restricted more to the eastern portion of the Reservoir. The boundaries
of the buffer zone should be clearly indicated by floating lines with markers. The
canoe ramp can be placed just south of the carpark. Camping and fishing should
also be not allowed.
D) Visitor Centre
In the exhibit, a visitor centre is planned to be located north of the Jelutong
Cove and south of the existing carpark at the Reservoir Sluice Gate. We here
propose that the visitor centre should be located about 50-100 metres into Neo
Lane 2 --- where a new carpark should also be set up close to the centre. Neo
Tiew Lane 2 is currently and should be the gateway to the Kranji Marshes Park as
it is the most accessible by bus and other motorized transport. From the
entrance, it will be only about a km. walk to the Marshes and Reservoir proper.
The reason that it is not proposed to be at the end of the Lane where the PUB
Pumping Station is located is because of traffic congestion --- given that the Lane
is narrow and is used as a PUB service road.
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E) Floating Pens
The introduction of floating pens with aquatic plants into the Kranji
Reservoir as shown in the exhibit is a good move, as these provide additional
resting and feeding grounds for the birds. Fish and other aquatic life also tend to
congregate beneath such floating pens. However, there should not be too many
of these artificial structures, as the openness of this waterbody and its aesthetic
appeal will be degraded. In this light, they should also be small with a natural
shape and look.
F) General Proposals for Kranji Reservoir
1) All-Round Reservoir Buffer Zone: We here also propose that an allround buffer of at least 50 metres or more where possible should be set from the
water’s edge inland and where the edge is marshy, from the dryland edge of the
marsh inland. This buffer should not be used for any development at all. This is to
minimize pollution and to provide a secure living space and movement corridor
for wildlife around the edge of the Reservoir. Also, it will preserve the natural
scenic beauty of the shoreline. As it is at present, some parts of the lovely green
shoreline have been violated and destroyed by allowing developments to intrude
almost to the very edge of the shoreline, e.g. along the Kadut Industrial Estate at
the north-eastern sector and the Tengah Airbase and military zone at Ama Keng in
the south-western sector. Such a buffer also allows for accessibility to members
of the public who want to enjoy a hiking or biking trip around this beautiful
Reservoir. Nature lovers can also benefit as there will be accessibility to more
nature areas around the Reservoir apart from the Kranji Marshes Park.
2) All-Round Reservoir Hiking & Biking Trail: This should be implemented
as soon as possible as there is a growing need for such outdoor recreational
activities among locals and expatriates. The sense of openness and space that the
Reservoir environs provide would be most inviting and invigorating to the weary
and hard-pressed city-folks of this global metropolis. The trail should not hug the
shoreline all the way and should avoid cutting through the marshes. It should be
routed to wind in and out of the shoreline through the scrubland, grassland and
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woodland with stretches coming out to the edge of the shoreline for open or
scenic views. Where the buffer is negligible such as along the Kadut Industrial
Estate, a boardwalk should be constructed for continuous movement.
3) Eutrophication in the Reservoir: The Kranji Reservoir is suffering from
eutrophication given the prevalence of the algal bloom in the many sectors of this
waterbody. We propose that a study be made and measures effected to prevent
this water pollution that is detrimental to the fishlife upon which many species of
birds are dependent for their survival.
II) The Lorong Halus Ponds & Sungei Serangoon
Sungei Serangoon will become a freshwater lake and reservoir after the
barrage has been established along the shoreline that will impound Sungei
Punggol as well. The impoundment of Sungei Serangoon will also cause its tidal
tributary, Sungei Belukar, to be converted into a freshwater body as well.
Watersport activities such canoeing and skiing will be introduced into this new
reservoir.
A) The Lorong Halus Ponds
We are happy to see that the PUB’s plan here also involves the setting up of
the Lorong Halus Ponds (at Sungei Belukar) as a freshwater marshland nature
area. From the exhibit we see that the marshy area will also be made into a public
park with a visitor centre and boardwalk facility.
However, we here strongly urge that the following measures should not be
taken with respect to the Halus Ponds for the sake of the birdlife inhabiting and
foraging in the pond as well as at its marshy edges:
1) There is no necessity to create a visitor centre here as the area is quite
small. A hide will be sufficient for bird observation.
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2) The boardwalk along the edges of the pond should also not be
constructed, because the pond is quite small and the birdlife using the pond and
its marshy edges for foraging and breeding, in particular the Lesser Whistling
Ducks, the Little Grebes, the Grey Herons, the Crakes, etc., will be scared off by
the stream of visitors. There are trails running along the dry ground around the
pond and these can be used for viewing access to the birdlife in and around the
pond.
3) There are two ponds in the area --- one that is relatively shallow and
marshy and further away from the Serangoon riverbank and one that is
rectangular in shape and less marshy and was the former leakage filter-pond
closer to the Serangoon riverbank. We here strongly urge that the latter --- the
leakage filter-pond --- be left as it is, untouched. There should not be any step
taken to clean up or expand this pond. The reason for this is that the pond is the
home of the Little Grebes --- a rare and nationally endangered species. This pond
is the only site in Singapore where this species can be found. A pair is breeding in
the pond and overall the population has declined very drastically. At its height the
population here comes to at least a dozen birds, some of them breeding pairs, but
now there are at most three to four birds. This decline as far as we could make
out is due to the cleaning up of the marshy edges of the pond and poaching.
B) Setting Up of a Public Park
As given in the exhibit, the public park only covers the area around the two
ponds. We propose that the public park should include the whole area occupied
by the capped dumping ground ---- covering also Sg Belukar and the two artificial
hills, one to the north and the other to the south of Sg Belukar and with the two
ponds as a bird sanctuary within the park.
The hills have become very green and wooded over the years, providing a
refuge for resident (e.g. Black-crowned Night Heron) and migratory bird species
(e.g. raptors like Black Baza & Oriental Honey Buzzard, as well as cuckoos,
flycatchers, warblers, etc.). In a recent survey (2006) by the Society’s Bird Group,
a total of 63 species are recorded around the ponds and its environs, which is very
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impressive for such a small area. The total number of species for Singapore is 364
(Ref. Society’s Pocket Checklist 2007.) Apart from the birdlife, the area is also rich
in butterflies --- where 20 species have been recorded (in 2007 by the Society’s
Butterfly Interest Group), 4 of which are rare in Singapore and they are: the
Common Tiger, the Grey Pansy, the Great Eggfly and the Silver Forget-Me-Not.
Walking and nature trails can be routed across the whole area with a bridge
across Sg Serangoon to provide access to and from the Punggol Grassland and the
HDB estate. The patches of woodlands on both banks of Sg Serangoon should be
preserved as refuges for the birds and other wildlife.
C) The Plan for Motor-Cross and Mountain Biking in the Area
It has been recently announced (The New Paper 8 April 2007) that the
Motor Cycle Safety & Sports Club (MSSC) and the Singapore Adventure Racing
Team (SART) has a plan for motor-cross and biking activities in the area adjacent
to the ponds and marshy grounds. We strongly urge that motor-cross and any
other motorized activities be either banned from the area or if not banned, their
routes be pushed as far as possible from the ponds and the banks of Sg Belukar
and Sg Serangoon. That is, they should be aligned closer to the Lorong Halus
(Road) and the TPE --- as these activities will simply be very disturbing to the
wildlife and very jarring to the visitors to the planned public park. We are not
against mountain biking but again their routes should be sensitive to the wildlife
at the ponds and the park visitors.
D) PUB’s ‘Our Waters Programme’
In response to the PUB ‘Our Waters Programme’, where public organizations are
encouraged to adopt and care for any of our waterbodies, the Nature Society
would like to request that the Lorong Halus Ponds and marshes be given to the
Society for adoption so that care of this very important bird sanctuary be carried
out on a proper and regular basis. The Society has the expertise to play this role
and will actively seek funding for its maintenance. A plan for the care of this
important habitat will be forthcoming.
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III) The Kallang River
It is very heartening to see that some stretches of the heavily concretised
Kallang River will be softened up. The plan to make the stretch running along the
boundary of St Andrew Secondary School natural with marshy banks is very bold,
progressive and inspiring. We hope that this could be a model that in future can
be applied to the whole or if this is not feasible to a greater stretch of the Kallang
and other rivers elsewhere.
We applaud the plan to beautify the river by softening up its banks along
the stretches of the Bishan Park. The lining of loose rocks with plants allowed to
grow out of the crevices, etc., is a very good move, benefitting the wildlife such as
insects, birds and reptiles that are more habituated to drier ground.
However, we would urge that for the Bishan Park stretch as well as along
the lower course, the river-bed should also be deconcretised to allow for the
uncovering of the mud-bed for the regeneration of wildlife that haunts the
shallow waters and soggy grounds. During the dry season, the water of the river
flows only in a stream in mid-channel for a long distance towards the sea. Once
the mud-bed of the river is exposed, aquatic plants and riverine wildlife will make
a come-back --- in particular wading birds and waterfowls such as bitterns,
herons, egrets, crakes, plovers, sandpipers, etc. This will make the river more alive
and interesting as well as ecologically beneficial.
This trend is gaining ground worldwide nowadays with the growth of
ecological awareness (e.g. in South Korea, Germany & the USA.) In the USA, the
Army Corp of Engineers is spending hundreds of million dollars to bring back the
original state of the Kissimmee River in Florida for the sake of retaining water on
the land as well as to prevent the further decline of wetland wildlife. We have the
money and should not hesitate to enhance and expand what have been projected
in the exhibition. For the Kallang River, such deconcretisation of the mudbed will
be very beneficial for riverine wildlife along the middle and lower courses where
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the buildings have intruded on both banks right to the very edge of the river, with
extremely limited space for planting of dryland trees and shrubs alongside the
walkway.
Also, we urge that since the set-back of land on both flanks of the river
along the Bishan Park stretch is quite ample, the plant-life should be allowed to
regenerate naturally instead of being regularly mowed and trimmed. Natural
woodlands should be nurtured in these setbacks --- which will eventually provide
extra feeding grounds for the forest wildlife in the Lower Peirce forest of the
Central Catchment Area. To enhance the quality of such woodlands, native forest
plants that are attractive to wildlife can be introduced.
Dated: 18 May 2007
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Acknowledgements: The Conservation Committee would like to thank the
following for assisting in the field recce and/ or for providing specific feedbacks &
recommendations for this feedback: Angie Ng, Alan Owyong, Cyril Ng, Ho Hua
Chew, Julia McLachlan, Khoo Meng Kuan, Leong Kwok Peng, Margie Hall, Tan
Beng Chiak, Willie Foo & Yap Von Bing.
The Committee would also like to thank the following for their support and
comments in the discussion during the Committee’s Conservation Chat pertaining
to this report: Ben Lee, Ching Chabo, Hsu Chia Chi, Lam Hon Pui, Leow Yoon Li,
Lioe Kim Swee, Shawn Lum & Vina Dharmarajah.
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