Sustainability a key pillar of PAP's plans for West Coast Jurong West: Desmond Lee

Western parts of S'pore to get an infusion of nature and culture if party's team is elected

- Audrey Tan

The heavily industrialised western parts of Singapore, often associated with factories and other manufacturing infrastructure, will get an infusion of nature and culture if the PAP candidates for West Coast Jurong West GRC are elected.

This could include programmes to involve residents in nature appreciation or tree-planting, or grassroots sustainability initiatives such as e-waste recycling schemes or detergent refill stations.

There will also be more schemes to boost community gardening, and "green markets" that will bring residents together to buy and sell local produce or pre-loved items.

As for culture, the intention is to imbue West Coast Park with more of the area's history, with enhancement plans transforming it into a "destination park". Such parks are large, regional parks with thematic identities and unique features to attract visitors from all over Singapore.

The plans were laid out by National Development Minister Desmond Lee on April 28, in an interview with The Straits Times ahead of his visits to constituents' homes.

Mr Lee is the anchor minister for the PAP team contesting West Coast-Jurong West GRC.

The sustainability initiatives make up one of nine pillars of a plan that Mr Lee's team has developed for the group representation constituency. The others include initiatives to help residents cope with rising costs of living, aid job seekers in their search for good jobs, empower young people and those with disabilities, and support seniors in their old age.

The overarching plan for the GRC had been announced in a press conference on Nomination Day on April 23, just hours after it was confirmed that the PAP would once again face the opposition PSP at the polls. Both the PAP and PSP had faced off in the then West Coast GRC at the 2020 General Election, with the PAP winning 51.68 per cent of the vote.