(June 30): Singapore will begin a landmark coastal protection project by the end of this year, aiming to reclaim as much as 800 hectares (1,977 acres) of land to protect against rising sea levels.
Preparatory works for the project — planned to include a reservoir, new islands and the addition of more outlet drains, pumping stations and tidal gates — will commence following an environmental study, the city-state’s Urban Redevelopment Authority said Tuesday in a statement.
The Long Island development “is a critical coastal protection measure to safeguard lives and livelihoods, as rising sea levels increasingly affect low-lying coastal areas,” the authority said.
Singapore is pursuing a US$100 billion ($129.4 billion) strategy to build resilience against climate impacts including flooding threats and storm surges. About 30% of the nation’s land is less than five meters (16.4 feet) above mean sea level, including the East Coast area that includes homes, businesses and Changi Airport.
The government began technical studies for the Long Island project in 2023 and earlier this year passed a separate coastal protection bill that will require property owners to build physical safeguards.
A first phase of works will be carried out west of Bedok Jetty, off Singapore’s East Coast Park, followed by a second phase that will commence after the Southeast Asian Games in 2029, which will use waters in the area for competition.
East Coast Park is used by residents for a range of water sports and some activities will be displaced while the project is carried out, the agency said. Sand infilling operations could also have some minor impacts on air quality and on some coral and seagrass beds.
The final future profile of Long Island, which could eventually add about 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) of new waterfront parks, is still being developed and subject to further studies and public consultation, according to the statement.
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