Plans for more vegetation in Serangoon River forest under review

Area east of river zoned for industrial use since 1998 Master Plan, says Alvin Tan

- Ang Qing Correspondent

Plans for Serangoon River forest

Government agencies are reviewing plans to develop more vegetation along the eastern bank of the Serangoon River, Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan told Parliament on Jan 14.

A coalition of residents and nature advocates has called for an environmental study on works on Lorong Halus bus depot, sited on one of several tracts of woodland on the eastern bank of the river. The woodland has been informally dubbed the Serangoon River forest.

Reiterating their call, Workers' Party MP Dennis Tan (Hougang) spoke in Parliament about the need to rethink the redevelopment and preservation of green spaces in Singapore.

In response, Mr Alvin Tan reiterated that the area east of the river, also known as Sungei Serangoon, has been zoned for industrial use since the 1998 Master Plan.

He said the land was intended to be progressively developed to bring economic development and jobs closer to residents of nearby towns, such as Hougang and Sengkang, and to future residents of the upcoming towns at Defu and Paya Lebar Air Base.

Plots of vegetation along the river stretch from Tampines Road to Serangoon East Dam.

The bus depot in the area was rezoned and published in the Government Gazette in December 2023, said Mr Alvin Tan, who is also Minister of State for Trade and Industry.