A tract of waterfront land spanning 1,000 ha, referred to as the Greater Southern Waterfront in the Draft Master Plan 2013 of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), will be the next major growth area in the city.
Specifically, the 21.5 ha of development area in Marina South will yield about 9,000 private homes. Development will start after 2017/2018, when the Thomson Line is nearer completion.
Residents and visitors to the area will be able to shop in an 800m long underground mall between the two Thomson Line stations serving the area, namely Marina South and Gardens by the Bay. This frees up the ground-level space above the mall for a pedestrian walkway.
Separately, an elevated landscaped walkway will take pedestrians from the Bay South Gardens to the seafront; cycling paths will thread through other parts of Marina Bay.
In a district to shape up as one of Singapore's most environmentally friendly, fewer cars could well be seen on its roads - courtesy of a network of underground carparks that the URA is looking into. If feasible, these carparks will enable motorists to drive from one building to another while underground.
Taking a helicopter view of the Greater Southern Waterfront area, the URA has outlined six broad ideas that will guide the development of the area:
Opportunities to live, work and play: Projects will integrate residential, commercial and recreational use. Labrador and Marina South could become lively mixed-use residential districts offering fenceless developments equipped with community amenities. Pulau Brani could offer opportunities for sustainable island living and leisure activities in the longer term.
Extension of city to waterfront: There will also be an opportunity to create a waterfront city seamlessly integrated with the rest of the city, along with a waterfront central business district.
More public spaces: The Central Linear Park could be extended, and a pedestrian axis towards the waterfront could be created. This axis could be designated car-free, opening up avenues for vibrant street life.
A 30 km waterfront: This could stretch from Labrador to Marina South.
Green, open spaces: An eco-corridor could provide an unbroken connection between the Gardens by the Bay and the island-wide green network. Embedded in this corridor would be inviting public spaces for community interaction and events.
Possible reservoir: A future reservoir could be created between Tanjong Pagar and Pulau Brani to retain rainwater from the Greater Southern Waterfront and store excess water from Marina Reservoir.
Source: Business Times –20 November 2013
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