Sustainability has always been one of the cornerstones of our focus on town management. Since Dr Teo Ho Pin’s time as the chairman of the Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council, it is enshrined in our work pertaining to township governance. Whether it is driving recycling efforts, stepping up our biophilic initiatives, and making our town more energy- efficient, we sustain the momentum by launching initiatives and technological innovations that make sustainability a fact of life for all.
Noteworthy here is the fact that all this is done against the backdrop of changing demographics. For instance, Bukit Panjang is home to Together, we embark on this sustainability journey a predominantly ageing community. There are more seniors now and our estates are also getting older – many precincts are entering the 30-year mark and some are even older.
In the next stage of our green plan, we have to dovetail our green initiatives with our rejuvenation plans. As such, our Neighbourhood Renewal Programmes have a green focus. We rethink the way our community centres, for example, are being designed so as to allow for better natural ventilation, which further brings down energy consumption. We have invested in energy-efficient LED lighting and encouraged the proliferation of community gardens and green spaces throughout our town.
Energy-efficiency not only reduces carbon emission but also keeps it affordable for our residents. We also want to explore water saving solutions through the use of devices such as jet equipment by our cleaners to wash the common areas. These devices can minimise water usage. Similarly, for households, we advise our residents on how they can minimise water consumption by installing water-saving devices on their taps and reducing their utility bill expenses.
An integral aspect of our approach towards sustainability is how we procure materials for our Town’s rejuvenation programmes – the entire supply chain ecosystem has to be aligned with our sustainability objectives that emphasise materiality and circularity. For example, the paint that we use for the Repair and Redecoration works in our estates are environmentally friendly and don’t contain harmful chemicals. We ensure that the suppliers from whom we procure goods in the course of our town management work have the green accreditation mark. In the past few years, there has been a palpable shift in our town planning and management work. It is also intrinsically linked to the SG Green Plan 2030 as well as the Action for Green Town initiative.
We are also looking at synergies between sustainability and mobility. Many of our residents have embraced cycling as their main mode of transportation. We are working closely with Land Transport Authority and pressing on with our cycling network to connect our Town as well as the various park connectors better, and make them more user-friendly and accessible.
One growing area of concern is the increase in the amount of waste generated during the pandemic. Our cleaners have witnessed the bins filling up fast, both in residential areas as well as the Town’s commercial centres and food markets. We hope to create awareness about responsible consumption and its impact on reducing our carbon footprint.
We are talking to companies about the potential of waste composting. As a progressive town council supported by our community of residents who are actively seeking ways to live a greener and healthier lifestyle, we are always open to new and innovative ideas that add value to our sustainability objectives.
MR LIANG ENG HWA
MP for Bukit Panjang SMC
Chairman of Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council
