‘Significant portion’ of greenery at Maju Forest & Gillman Barracks to be reserved as nature parks
Following public feedback, more greenery will be retained at Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks even as the sites are developed for housing.
This comes after the plans for the proposed developments were revised, said HDB in a news release on Wednesday (28 Oct).
Source: Housing & Development Board via Urban Redevelopment Authority
10 ha of Maju Forest & 12 ha of Gillman Barracks to be spared
On 10 July, HDB had announced that about 15 hectares (ha) of Maju Forest and at least 10ha of forest at Gillman Barracks could be cleared for new homes.
The original conceptual plan has now been revised to retain about 10ha of greenery at Maju Forest, an increase from the initial 8ha.
This is approximately 45% of the 23ha site, up from 35%.
For Gillman Barracks, about 12ha will be set aside for greenery, from a previous 8ha.
This is approximately 60% of the 20ha of existing greenery and an increase from 40% in the original plan.
Gillman Barracks. Source: Change.org
The new plans will also reserve “significant portions” of greenery at both sites as nature parks.
New nature park at Maju Forest
At Maju Forest, an additional area at its southern part will be retained, giving the site a wider and more contiguous green area.
This will provide a wider pathway for the movement of wildlife, including species with conservation significance.
The more contiguous green area will also strengthen ecological connectivity within the site and along the Clementi Nature Corridor.
Source: HDB
The retained greenery will be safeguarded as a new nature park within the Old Jurong Line Nature Trail, which will give residents more options for nature-based recreation within the Clementi Nature Corridor when it is completed.
Source: HDB
There will also be a new nature way along Brookvale Drive, which will feature “multi-tiered planting” that mimics the natural forest structure.
Source: HDB
More forest around Gillman Barracks hillock to be retained
Over at Gillman Barracks, more of the existing forest around the hillock will be retained.
There will also be additional retained green areas in the eastern part of the site towards Telok Blangah Street 31, while the north-south ecological corridor along Lock Road and Malan Road will be widened, HDB said, adding:
A larger green area will provide a wider buffer around the existing forest and further enhance the east-west ecological connection along the Southern Ridges, as well as the north-south ecological connection towards Berlayar Creek and Labrador Nature Reserve.
Source: HDB
The site will have a proposed nature park, as part of the Labrador Nature Park Network.
Source: HDB
Nature ways along Alexandra Road and Telok Blangah Road will be enhanced, and a new nature way planned along Telok Blangah Street 31.
It will incorporate “multi-tiered greenery” for animals such as butterflies and birds to move through the area.
Source: HDB
1,200 fewer homes on both sites
HDB said that under the revised plans, an estimated 4,000 public housing units will be built at Maju Forest and 7,000 homes at Gillman Barracks, of which 5,500 are for public housing.
That means the two sites will yield about 11,000 homes over the next 10 years.
This is about 1,200 fewer homes than the initial plan, with Maju Forest cutting 400 and Gillman Barracks cutting 800.
Close to 10,000 feedback submissions received
Around 7,200 feedback submissions were received for Maju Forest and 2,300 for Gillman Barracks during the public consultation period earlier this year, HDB noted.
It also engaged about 1,000 stakeholders to “better understand the concerns raised and hear from different segments of the community”.
Thus, the review sought to strike the balance between developing the sites as sensitively as possible, while meeting the housing needs of Singaporeans, HDB added.
Also read: More greenery but fewer homes planned for Maju Forest & Gillman Barracks after public feedback
More greenery but fewer homes planned for Maju Forest & Gillman Barracks after public feedback
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Featured image adapted from Change.org and Brice Li on Facebook.
