New towns should take local characteristics into account - 30Jan2013

SINGAPORE: Singapore will soon see a number of new towns in areas like Bidadari, Tengah and Tampines North.
Experts said the development of these places should take local characteristics and history into account, as this will not only retain the town's history and uniqueness, it will help create a more varied environment in Singapore.
Punggol New Town has come a long way. Its transformation began in 1996, with the government's Punggol 21 vision to create a waterfront town.
Mdm Koh Geok Kee, a sales assistant, said: \"When I first moved here, I had to wait... -- wait for the shopping areas to be built, more buses and the beach area. At first it was very dirty, but now it's very clean, so I like it more and more.\"
Ong Jun Long, a student, said: \"It's very quiet and it has all the facilities we need, especially with the new waterway that allows people to enjoy the natural side of life.\"
Observers said the development of Punggol could provide a glimpse into the future of Singapore as the government looks for new plots of land to build new towns.
The Population White Paper released on Tuesday listed Bidadari, Tengah and Tampines North as possible sites, especially now that 700,000 housing units are expected to come on stream by 2030.
For these areas, experts said Punggol offers several lessons.