The Sengkang Floating Wetland has been developed as part of PUB’s Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme to bring water and nature to the door steps of residents in Punggol.
The Wetland that was officially opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last Sunday, will create new spaces for leisure activities and help to cleanse water in the reservoir, among other benefits.
Opening of Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters at Sengkang Floating Wetland brings water and nature to the door steps of residents in Punggol.
Residents living in the Punggol and Sengkang area can now enjoy the largest man-made floating wetland in Singapore. Developed as part of PUB’s Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme, the wetland sitting on the Punggol Reservoir is roughly the size of half a football field, and was officially opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today.
The event was organised by national water agency PUB and the Sengkang West Grassroots Organisations (GROs).
Sengkang Floating Wetland serves more than just aesthetics. While beautifying the landscape and creating new spaces for leisure activities, the wetland’s main function is to cleanse the water in the reservoir. Wetlands are also one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems, and support a thriving community of plant and animal life.
Residents can look forward to spotting seldom seen species of birds and other wildlife at Sengkang Floating Wetland in time to come.
“The wetland is home to about 18 plant species that have been carefully chosen for both their cleansing and aesthetic properties. These plants absorb nutrients and pollutants through their roots. This helps to ensure that the water in this reservoir, an important source of our water supply, stays clean the natural way,” said Mr Tan Nguan Sen, PUB’s Catchment and Waterways Director.
The Sengkang Floating Wetland is a project under PUB’s Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Programme. Into its fourth year, the ABC Waters Programme has been transforming Singapore’s comprehensive network of drains, canals and rivers into beautiful streams, rivers and lakes and integrates our water bodies with our parks and green spaces, creating new community spaces that are clean, pleasant and bustling with life and activity.
The wetland links the Anchorvale Community Club to the Sengkang Riverside Park via a bridge on one side, and a boardwalk skimming the water surface on the other, so residents can now enjoy facilities on both banks of the Punggol Reservoir, as well as on the Sengkang Floating Wetland and its boardwalk overlooking the reservoir.
In addition, the Anchorvale Community Club Management Committee and People’s Association (PA) are working closely to set up a Water Sports Activities Centre at Sengkang West along Punggol Reservoir, so residents can participate in canoeing and dragon boating activities as well.
Dr Lam Pin Min, Adviser to the Sengkang West GROs, said, “Sengkang West has changed tremendously over the past four years. Many new facilities and amenities have sprung up. These include the Fernvale point, Anchorvale CC, Sengkang Sports and Recreation Centre and the Sengkang Riverside Park. The official opening of Sengkang Floating Wetland and the proposed People’s Association Water Activities Centre at Punggol Reservoir bring us one step closer to our vision of transforming Sengkang West into a suburban recreation hub. I am sure residents will benefit and enjoy these new facilities tremendously.”
Punggol Reservoir which has been formed by damming up Sungei Punggol, is Singapore’s 16th reservoir while the Serangoon Reservoir nearby has been formed by damming up Sungei Serangoon. With these two new reservoirs, Singapore’s water catchment area will be increased to two-thirds of Singapore’s land area.
Gen Yeo, a resident who has been living in Sengkang for the past 7 years is happy with this new addition to the area. “It’s good that my children will be able to experience nature right at our door step. More importantly, they will experience firsthand how clean water enriches our lives and living environment and do their part to keep it clean.”
Various groups and organisations have already come onboard to take joint ownership of the reservoir to keep the waters active and clean. The Anchorvale Community Club Youth Executive Committee (YEC), supported by the Management Committee (CCMC) and PUB, organises regular cultural performances at the viewing gallery overlooking the reservoir. Residents living in the area can enjoy a wide spectrum of musical and arts performances. The Singapore Scout Association, organisers of a “Water Awareness Day” since 2007 will also have an additional dimension to their outreach materials through learning about the functions of the wetland.
New adopters that have come forward to adopt this reservoir include Compassvale Secondary School as well as schools in the Sengkang West constituency – Fernvale Primary School, Nan Chiau Primary School, Anchor Green Primary School, Nan Chiau High School, and Pei Hwa Secondary School. These schools will use this project as an outdoor classroom venue.
NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Ltd will also sponsor $30,000 over 2 years for an educational fund – The FairPrice Water Education Fund – for Sengkang Floating Wetland. Schools interested in organising educational activities related to the wetland can tap on the fund for financial support. In addition, NTUC FairPrice staff will participate in clean-ups, water quality monitoring, and collaborations with other Punggol Reservoir adopters.
About PUB
PUB is a statutory board under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. It is the national water agency managing Singapore’s water supply, water catchment and used water in an integrated way. PUB won the 2007 Stockholm Industry Water Award and was named Water Agency of the Year at the Global Water Awards 2006.
About PUB’s tagline: Water for All: Conserve, Value, Enjoy
PUB has ensured a diversified and sustainable supply of water for Singapore with the Four National Taps (local catchment water, imported water, NEWater, desalinated water). To provide water for all, PUB calls on all Singaporeans to play our part to conserve water, keep our water catchments and waterways clean and build a relationship with water so we can enjoy our water resources. We can then have enough water for all uses – for industry, for living, for life.
