Residents, advocates call for study amid bus depot works in Serangoon River forest

They want works to pause until detailed study of site’s ecological value

- Ang Qing

Since September, Hougang resident Tan Choon Ming has canvassed HDB blocks with fliers detailing the Serangoon River forest's value, urging residents to ask the authorities to revisit the usage of the woodland.

(ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH)

For years, the eastern bank of the Serangoon River has been a rare, green refuge for Singapore’s northeastern towns, as large tracts of woodland reclaimed abandoned villages and a landfill.

So several residents in the area were taken aback in late 2025 when construction vehicles rolled in to start work on the Lorong Halus bus depot, which is sited within the southernmost tract of vegetation.

Now, a coalition of residents and some nature advocates are calling for the works to pause until the vegetated site’s ecological value is properly studied.

Nature Society Singapore (NSS) estimates the plot to span about 105ha ~ slightly bigger than Coney Island Park.

On Dec 23, NSS conducted its own rapid survey of the plot and logged 138 species of common and exotic plants, which included noteworthy species such as native fig trees and fishtail palms that are prolific food producers for fauna.

Past NSS surveys of the area along Serangoon River, also known as Sungei Serangoon, had shown the presence of 92 species of birds, of which 25 were of concern for conservation.

The grey-headed fish eagle and rufous woodpecker are among 10 of these species that are known to rely on forests.

The authorities have previously said that the area for the bus depot did not warrant a study, as the brownfield site primarily contained nonnative vegetation and was not near any sensitive nature areas.

Brownfield sites generally refer to land that has once been developed or are vacant parcels amid existing developments, according to a previous reply by the Ministry of National Development.

In comparison, greenfield sites refer to undeveloped land.