Three parcels off East Coast Park could be reclaimed over the next few decades, creating around 800 hectares of land and a new reservoir.
These land masses, known as Long Island, are approximately twice the size of Marina Bay. The plan responds to the threat of sea level rise and inland flooding in the East Coast region.
Separately on Long Island, the government was also considering building a sea wall up to 3 meters high, stretching from Marina East to Tanah Merah.
This option proved not to be ideal, as park users would have limited access to the waterfront once the sea wall was completed. Some existing green spaces and recreational facilities may also be lost.
why is it important
Most of the land on the East Coast is less than 5 meters above mean sea level, and if extreme storm surges combine with storm surges, sea levels are predicted to rise by up to 5 meters by the end of the century.
Around Singapore, average sea level alone is predicted to rise by up to 1 meter by the end of this century.
The new reservoir will also help increase the country’s water supply.
But experts say steps should be taken from the start to protect the sensitive marine habitats of the East Coast and Southern Islands, which are within 10 kilometers of the mainland, from the effects of construction on Long Island.
East Coast Park’s marine life, including coral, seaweed and hawksbill turtles, has returned decades after its last reclamation. But biodiversity experts fear construction on Long Island could wipe them out again.