5 New Big Projects in S’pore As Mentioned by PM Lee In National Day Message

Jewel Changi Airport might’ve lit a fire in even the most hardened Singaporeans’ hearts with its sheer aesthetics and facilities…

But the fact remains that just like everything else…

It’s bound to get old. Soon.

And thus the question begets;

What’s next? Will there be a next? Will we be thrilled once again, like how Jewel thrilled us in the year 2019?

Well, if you do find yourself wondering the above with aplomb, I’m here to tell you yes:

There’re more projects on the way, and they might be even more phenomenal in nature than the gem of Singapore itself.

5 New Big Projects in S’pore As Mentioned by PM Lee In National Day Message

On Thursday (8 August), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reminded Singaporeans that Jewel Changi Airport was just the tip of the iceberg.

It was “just one of the many things we are doing to remake our city”.

Lest you’re unaware, other projects include Changi Airport Terminal 5, Tuas Megaport, the Jurong Lake District, the redevelopment of Paya Lebar Airbase and the Greater Southern Waterfront.

“All these projects will keep us busy, and create new opportunities for Singaporeans for decades to come,” said Mr Lee.

But what do these projects entail, exactly? What do they mean for us? And perhaps most importantly, will Manchester United win the Premier League title this season?

Without further ado, let’s find out.

1. Changi Airport Terminal 5

Changi Airport’s regular terminals 1-4 might be pretty slick…

But Terminal 5’s all set to outdo them all.

Apart from being really big (it’s being built on 1,000 hectares of land, which is equivalent to the size of Tampines new town; also, the rest of the airport nestles on 1,350ha of land), it will also make use of renewable energy and have technologies such as automated check-in kiosks and bag drops.

When completed by 2030, the terminal will increase Changi’s annual capacity by 50 million passengers initially and up to 70 million if needed, which means that Changi could potentially cater to 150 million passengers a year (compared with the current capacity of 82 million).

The project will also have a station serving it on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL).

2. Tuas Mega Port

Set to open in phases starting from 2021, and rumoured to be twice the size of Ang Mo Kio new town, Tuas Mega Port’s touted to be the future of Singapore’s maritime sector.

According to CNA, the port will come with the capacity to hold 65 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) of cargo, more than the 50 million TEUs the existing terminals can hold annually.

The terminal will also benefit from automation, which will be really useful for customers who crave faster service.

3. Jurong Lake District The Second CBD

Sick of the central area hogging the ‘CBD’ spotlight?

Well, be sick no more.

By 2026, Jurong Lake District will be all set to be the second CBD in the country, with integrated tourism development and attractions, hotels as well as other lifestyle offerings.

When the entire 360ha district is completed after 2040, there will be more than 100,000 new jobs and 20,000 homes.

At the current moment, the district has been split into two precincts: Jurong Gateway, the commercial hub where redevelopment has begun, and Lakeside, where the HSR terminus was supposed to be located.

The now-postponed Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project was previously set to have a terminus there.

4. Paya Lebar Airbase Move

When the Paya Lebar Airbase gets relocated to the expanded Tengah Airbase, space freed up will reportedly be equivalent to around five Toa Payoh towns.

And really, what better way to utilise so much space, than to make it a “highly liveable and sustainable new town”, all while retaining its rich aviation heritage? As Mr Lee previously announced at the 2013 National Day Rally…

“You look at this area, it is 800 hectares. It is bigger than Ang Mo Kio, it is bigger than Bishan. But (when) it moves out, we will build new homes, new offices, new factories, new parks, new living environments, new communities,” he had said.

5. The Greater Southern Waterfront

The Greater Southern Waterfront’s all set to take over the space left vacant by the port at Tanjong Pagar, after the latter relocates to the Tuas mega port. And boy…

Do they have plans for you?

With a projected start date in 2030, there are plans to integrate Sentosa with the southern waterfront, as well as the concise development of Palau Brani.

According to CNA, the waterfront will consist of a verdant island with different types of housing, an island for play and tourist attractions, as well as a futuristic city that’s essentially an extension of the CBD providing access to Singapore’s green pathways.

In addition, an eco-corridor that links Gardens by the Bay to the island-wide green network (including the Rail Corridor and Southern Ridges), might be a possibility too.