By Cheryl Tay:
The plan to build an international school near Pasir Ris Heights is facing great opposition from a group of residents who aim to protect the existing forest (pictured). They have called on the government to review its biodiversity and consider other alternative plots, reported The Straits Times.
However, the Ministry of National Development (MND) noted that the school was “based on planning considerations, including the need to provide a good distribution of such school sites islandwide.”
Residents are disappointed by the response as they feel it does not “adequately address” the issues. “We are seriously considering proceeding with a legal recourse to save the forest,” they posted on Facebook.
The controversy traces back to July with a petition, following the announcement of plans to develop either side of the forest patch. The group had also met with their MP, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.
But on 29 December, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) ordered a tree with about 90 parakeets to be cut down, following apparent complaints regarding noise. But residents confronted the workers who eventually left. Following this, they posted a letter on Facebook they had sent to the MND, URA, National Parks Board and Singapore Land Authority (SLA0, questioning the intent of the attempted cutting down of the tree.
To this, the MND said the attempt was to stop the tree from being toppled by strong winds, and “not to commence clearance of the site”.
“After consideration of the assessment of the local biodiversity and the many competing land uses, we were unable to accede to the residents’ request,” it noted. MND also said that the area has fewer species compared to other parks and reserves, based on NParks’ visits.
Still, residents maintain their position that the area, about the size of two football fields, is home to a considerable number of wildlife species that need to be protected.
Cheryl Tay, Editor of CommericalGuru, wrote this story. To contact her about this or other stories, email cheryltay@propertyguru.com.sg
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