193ha off Changi to be reclaimed; size cut to save seagrass meadow

Aviation park to be built on site; efforts made to limit impact on marine habitat

- Ang Qing

About 193ha of land off Changi will be reclaimed to develop an aviation park, with adjustments made to protect one of Singapore's largest seagrass meadows, The Straits Times has learnt.

The reclaimed area between Changi Beach Park and Aviation Park Staging Ground near Changi Bay will be almost twice the size of Gardens by the Bay.

The reclaimed area will be used "to support Singapore's future economic growth and to meet long-term industrial land use needs", the HDB told ST on July 1.

No timeline was given for the reclamation. HDB is the agent appointed by the Ministry of National Development to carry out land reclamation works.

The Government had previously announced plans for a second airport logistics park from 2030 to raise the capacity of Changi Aviation Park and boost Changi Airport's role as a regional air cargo hub.

An airport logistics park is a zone near an airport that optimises the flow of air cargo and reduces the cost and transit time for processing goods.

HDB had commissioned an environmental impact assessment to determine the potential impact of the works on coral and seagrass within the project footprint, and the biodiversity that thrives in these habitats.

Surveys to understand human, wildlife and coastal ecosystems near and within the project took place from April 2022 to May 2023.

The report, which found a seagrass meadow and corals in the project site, has been available for people to view in-person since May 9 upon signing of a non-disclosure agreement.

HDB said the footprint of the project will be reduced to limit damage to a seagrass meadow off Changi Beach Park, which experts have said is one of Singapore's largest.

The HDB said the area to be reclaimed was larger under the latest Long-Term Plan, which charts Singapore's growth for the next five decades and beyond.

But it was cut by nearly one-fifth, or 45ha.