Singapore to build barriers to protect south-eastern coast from rising seas

Proposed measures come after four-year study; construction to start from the 2030s

- Shabana Begum

Structures to help preserve Singapore's south-eastern coastline – one of its lowest-lying areas – will be built from the 2030s to protect people and infrastructure there from the rising seas.

These range from coastal barriers, which are arm-like gates that can open or close depending on weather conditions, to raised platforms known as bunds in the Changi beach area.

These were some of the recommended solutions revealed at the country's first coastal protection exhibition at VivoCity.

On Aug 30, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who toured the exhibition, said: "Coastal protection is another endeavour that will require sustained effort over generations – and just as with our public housing, water and infrastructure, it is a necessary investment in the safety, security, and resilience of our nation."

The exhibition ends on Aug 31.

The proposed measures shown at the exhibition by national water agency PUB are recommendations following a four-year study of the City-East Coast stretch. The study by infrastructure consultancy CPG Consultants began in 2021.

The stretch spans the Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal to the future Greater Southern Waterfront precinct and the Changi area.

It is one of eight segments into which PUB has divided Singapore's over 300km-long coastline to identify the most suitable ways to protect each section.

The City-East Coast stretch was chosen for the first site-specific study due to its low-lying nature as much of it is less than 5m above current sea levels.

By 2100, average sea levels around Singapore could potentially rise by up to 1.15m.

The segment between the Greater Southern Waterfront and Changi will be protected by the previously announced Long Island.