ST Forum : Town council has funds to replace lifts

Nov 28, 2009

Town council has funds to replace lifts

I REFER to Ms Eilleen Tan's query on Wednesday, 'Where's the fund to replace 1,260 lifts in future?'

We thank Ms Tan for her concern on the funding of lift replacement in future by Tampines Town Council. She rightly pointed out that the future replacement cost of lifts is paid out of the town council's sinking fund.

However, these lifts will be replaced only gradually over the 28-year replacement cycle as all the lifts are of different ages. The current expenditure of $24 million was largely due to the current Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) which will be completed over the next few years.

To put it simply, we will need an average of $4.5 million a year to replace the 1,260 lifts over the 28-year cycle, which will be adequately provided for from our annual sinking fund contribution which currently is $11.8 million.

We wish to assure Ms Tan and all residents of Tampines Town that Tampines Town Council will continue to manage its sinking fund and expenditure prudently to ensure our community facilities are replaced or upgraded in a timely manner.

Leong Shee Wing
General Manager/Secretary
Tampines Town Council