ST : Public forums on urban plan in May

Apr 20, 2010

Public forums on urban plan in May

THE Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is holding two public forums next month to share proposed recommendations on its review of the Concept Plan 2011.

The plan maps out the long-term directions for Singapore's land use and transport for the next 40 to 50 years.

Two focus groups have met over the past four months to discuss four key issues - quality of life, ageing, sustainability and identity - and will share their preliminary recommendations at the two forums, said the URA yesterday.

Some of the questions posed in the focus groups included how to maintain and enhance the quality of life even as Singapore develops, and how to meet the diverse aspirations of the different population segments.

The first forum - on sustainability and identity - will be on May 6 and co-chaired by Mr Lee Tzu Yang, chairman of Shell Companies in Singapore, and the director of the Institute of Policy Studies, Mr Ong Keng Yong.

The second forum addresses quality of life and ageing issues and will be on May 10. National Arts Council chairman Edmund Cheng and Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, president of the National University of Singapore, will co-chair the event.

The URA said the focus groups will review feedback received at the forums before they submit final recommendations.

A draft concept plan will then be created and the URA will seek feedback on this next year.

The review is carried out every 10 years with the current process scheduled to be completed next year.

Previous concept plans have given birth to major infrastructure projects like Changi Airport and the first MRT lines, which were both in the 1971 plan. The parks and waterbodies plan stemmed from the 2001 review.

URA said it has yet to decide on the venue of the forums, but interested members of the public can register at www.ura.gov.sg